A Day of Parties

The Christmas party at school was better than I could ever have imagined. It was, without doubt, the best Christmas party any of my schools have ever hosted. The food served was kind of like a julbord consisting of a variety of fruit, sushi, and pizza. Especially the fruit and the pizza were quite a surprising sight, as both are things that tend to be really expensive here in Japan (with the exception of bananas and pineapple, for some reason). They even has strawberries! Believe me when I say that strawberries are worth their wight in gold here, despite their great popularity.

Once I'd eaten myself full on a variety of very tasty food, I found my way to a room where I could try my hand at the fine art of calligraphy. Sad to say I was not very good, which would prove to have consequenses later on, when I to my surprise was called to stage along with the other calligraphists, and had my work voted down by the ruthless crowd before us. Then came the fun part, getting up on that table with a microphone when accepting my consolation prize (which was ramen! ;D). Though my japanese skills still have a tendency to fly into hiding whenever I really need them, thus preventing me from expressing most of the things that popped into my head at the time, I had a great time anyway - I very much love speaking in front of a crowd.

One of the more interesting acts of entertainment during the party was a drag queen competition, which I am sad to say I took no part in. But I wasn't about to jump into something like that with my head first. If I were going to dress up as a girl, whether for a competition or just for fun, it would be done properly, requiring the right top, the right skirt, the right boots and accessories, hairstyle and makeup. Overall, I'd probably wear quite alot of fur. The boots would likely be lined with it, for one thing. In other words, I would have to do some serious shopping, which would all be fine (who doesn't love shopping, after all?), except I wouldn't currently have the money for it all. Who knows... when I do, maybe you will get to see me dressed up like that.

Once the party at school was over, I went home to wait in Alberto's party in the evening. Meeting up at 8 'o clock outside the koban by the east exit of Shinjuku station, we took the subway to Roppongi, where we went to the greatest drinking place ever! Designed like a block in some ancient Japanese town, or maybe it was as a larger inn from the same era, it really had atmosphere. It was quite expensive too, but Miyasaki-sensei was really generous and paid for all the food, so most of us only had to pay for whatever drinks we ordered. Anyway, the place is truly worth a visit, so I'll make sure to bring all of my friends there as soon as I have the opportunity. 

The people who were there today - apart from Alberto, Miyasaki-sensei and myself - were Sarah, Jennifer, Kitti, Legato, Victor, Kim, Poha, Runo, Yamanaka-sensei, and a friend of Miyasaki-sensei who looked very much like some actor or something whose face I can't quite place. (There was another classmate as well, who's name will be edited in as soon as I am awake enough to remember it.) Once we were full of food and drink - the best food and drink I've had in months - most of us went to see the Christmas lights around Roppongi Hills. They very very nice, especially with the beautifully lit up Tokyo Tower clearly being seen in the background.

Once it was time to return home, the group split in two once inside the subway station. Along with my half, I returned to Shinjuku to take the Yamanote line back to Ikebukuro.  But when we got to Shinjuku, it seemed that the trains going north had already stopped running. As Miyasaki's friend were also heading for Ikebukuro, he suggested to me and Legato that the three of us take the Chuo line eastwards to Akihabara, to hopefully be able to catch the Yamanote line from there before it would be too late.

But alas, somewhere along that trip he started to realize that there was no way we would make it (he was constantly browsing the internet on his phone, keeping track of all the trains and stuff). So when we got to Suidobashi, he urged us off the train, brought us out to the Taxi stand outside the station, and in a very nice gesture paid a taxi for the three of us back to Ikebukuro! I can't express how greatful I am to him at this moment. Without him, both Legato and I would be stuck somewhere in Tokyo right now, with no real possibility of getting home before the morning trains start running. Instead I now have my nice and cozy bed right here before me, and into that bed I will now fall down, let sleep overtake me, and get a really nice rest before tomorrow. Because then awaits a movie afternoon with pancakes and friends, followed by yet another sayonara party of Alberto's.

Pictures and Preparations

Today Legato and I went to take a bunch of pictures at a modeling agency. In my case, they were without doubt the best pictures taken by any of the agencies I have registered with so far, so if this doesn't lead to a bunch of new, exciting modeling jobs, I don't know what will.  In all honesty, though, I think I need a haircut. At the moment my hair looks much too uncared for, which is likely why the well-paid jobs haven't stared rolling in yet. So I have decided to get a haircut the moment I get some new money. On the 22nd, that is.

The Christmas party I am hosting on the 24th is staring to come along nicely. Food will now be bought in advance and served at the party, it has been decided, as should be the case at a real Christmas party. And I've managed to get my hands on a couple boxes of Aladdin chocholate, which is indeed a very vital thing to have at Christmas. Now I just need to go buy the actuall food as well. That, and some more glogg. IKEA should be the perfect place. Yes, a visit there is definitelty warranted before Christmas Eve comes before us. Maybe I'll go on the 22nd, maybe after the visit to the Imperial Palace on the 23rd.

And speaking of Christmas parties, tomorrow there is actually one hosted by my school. No classes this last day, in other words. Just socializing, having fun. Afterwards Alberto will have a sayonara party with the class at some Izakaya. That will be quite fun, I am sure. I'll let you know all about it when I get back tomorrow evening.

Exams!

We had a second day of exams in school yesterday. While the test of the day before had been focused merely on speaking skills, the ones we had yesterday were the vocabulary, grammar, and listening comprehension tests. As I was feeling kind of ill, I screwed up the first one completely by not having gotten through more then half of it when the time ran out, and on the other two I may have made too many careless mistakes for my own liking. All in all, I'll be lucky if I get over 80% on this series of exams. But believe me, I'll get even with my own score soon enough.

I am planning to ask my school tomorrow if I can write the placement test they give to newly arrived students just before school starts in January. That will allow me to prove to myself, and others, where my real level is. And it gives me a goal too, a reason to study like hell during the upcoming holidays.

Now I am going to eat some breakfast, then get ready for the day to come! See you all later.

An earthquake far far away...

So I hear that southern Sweden had an earthquake this morning - 4.7 on the richter scale. If that isn't proof enough that the gods are angry at the damn socialist tendencies of that country, I don't know what is. More will follow, trust me on that! Soon they will be begging on their knees for forgiveness.

Of course I am kidding. But they did have an earthquake. Which means that since I came to Japan, the most seismologically active country in the world, my family in Sweden have have experienced as many eartquakes as I have. And their's was stronger. How is that for a twist of fate?

I finally got my package today!! Many thanks to my parents for sending it! I am now sitting here eating the most Swedish candy I have tasted in months, and I love it! Some things Swedish I will never be able to get over, it seems. The candy is one of them. Kebab pizza is another. And gingerbread cookies, undoubtedly, is the third.

Pictures of the Apartment

I took some pictures of my apartment a few days ago, to let the world know what I live like. Most readers of this blog have probably already seen them, but I may as well give you a link, just in case. This is where my pictures may be found. Enjoy.

A great day indeed

The last few days have been marked by studies. There is a week of tests ahead of me, and I do not feel ready for it. The grammar is not problem - that's the easy part - nor is the kanji that hard to remember. But for some reason I find it nearly impossible to memorize all the hundreds upon hundreds of words compiled in my vocabulary list. That  is where the hard part lies. But I will do my best, and I most definitely will continue to study harder than ever during these upcoming weeks of the winter holidays, to reach my goal of knowing every piece of vocabulary, every kanji, and every piece of grammar used in our course books, before the beginning of the spring term.

Only time will tell if I actually succeed, but do know that I am adamant in my attempts to do so.

Speaking of the holiday season, I finally posted that Facebook event I have been meaning to make about the upcoming Christmas party which I hope will forever mark this Christmas in our memories as a truly great one. Though it technically would be far from only my responsibility, I do feel that if I don't start steering things up soon, they will just end up falling through. So I took the initiative, and now things are starting to look much brighter again. I have already managed to bring a splinter group or two in under my all-encompassing Christmas umbrella, and more are sure to follow.

I got a birthday card from my grandmother yesterday. I was quite surprised when I found it in the mailbox, as I had no idea she knew my address in Japan. But of I should have known she did. After all, my grandmother would let nothing stand in her way of proper birthday gratulations.

Another piece of mail which I am currently waiting for, is a package from my parents. Technically sent from Helsingborg, by my father. But as it all started with me whining to my mother on the phone about how much I missed proper Swedish candy, and as most of the content of the package will actually be made up of said candy and cookies bought on my mother's direction, I definitely see it as being from both of them.

The problem is that it still haven't arrived, a whole week after it was sent. I was kind of expecting it either yesterday or today. And yes, they do deliver mail on the weekends in Japan. It's the height of servicemindedness, if you ask me, and very convenient at that. Anyway, the package will most likely be delivered tomorrow.

In the meantime I suppose I will just have to make do with the two large boxes of ginger bread that Linus bought with him on my behalf when he went to IKEA earlier today. He also got me a bottle of Glogg, the traditional Swedish spiced wine much associated with Christmas. I am very much looking forward to opening that one. Perhaps I will save it till the Christmas party, perhaps I will open it on my birthday. Either way, it will be a great day indeed.

A Summary of Past Events

Okay, so it's been a while since my last update. Quite a while. Not a single post in all of November or this half of December. That's very bad of me, I know. From now on, I promise to try to be more diligent.

Since my last post... too many things have happened for me to actually be able to write about them all. So please allow this post to mostly be an attempt at summarizing what have happened since my last post. And so, in the manner of "first things first", let's begin with the grand event of the month! Last month, I mean. I moved to Ikebukuro-honcho!!

The new apartment is great. A few of you have seen it already, at the moving in party. The rest of you should really come to see it soon, because it's really nice. A bit too cold now in winter, perhaps, and the power overloads much too easily, but other than that it is very nice indeed. It is the largest apartment I have ever had, even if you divide the total area by three to take into account the fact that I am sharing it with my two friends Legato and Linus.

I love the location this close to central Tokyo.  The gas stove is also very much to my liking (as are most of the other furniture and appliances that came with the place), but I do miss  a proper oven where I could bake cakes and cookies and gingerbread and ... and so on. The bedroom tatami floors are also great, if perhaps a bit cold this time of year, and our collection of plants have now grown to a total of five - including a palmtree. Should soon be time for number six. Our walls are now, to Linus' great regret, adorned by posters advertising various musicals such as Wicked and The Phantom of the Opera. But what did he expect when moving in with two musical loving people?

Alexandra had her leaving party sometime early November. It was a very small and cozy event taking place in Matsudo guesthouse, with only her closest of friends attending. Though normally guests are not allowed to stay after six, I had managed to get special permission to do, allowing me to be there and say my proper goodbyes before she left us all for the cold reaches of Sweden. Before she left she was really looking forward to coming home, but once she got there it didn't take many days before she really wanted to go back, so fortunately I expect to see her back in these parts of the world before long.

The next person to leave was Malin, around the end of that same month. Her goodbye party was considerably more extravagant, with a whole bunch of people, including two of our teachers, going to eat and drink in Shinjuku Kabukichou. That was followed by a night of karaoke - which of course is the thing to do in Japan. When you're not shopping, out clubbing, or otherwise spending your money on any of the varieties of kickass entertainment available here - the best to be found anywhere in the world.

In November was also Claudias birthday party, as well as the moving in party I briefly mentioned before. Other than these two events though, not much at all has happened in the way of partying or going out meeting new people lately.  The falling Swedish krona has made sure of that. Seriously, whenever has there been a more worthless currency? Sure, the Euro has fallen against the yen as well, as have the Korean won and most other currencies in the world, but none of them has fallen anywhere as much as the Swedish krona, I believe.

There is something rotten lurking just beneath the surface of the Swedish economy, I tell you. It has been lurking there for decades, making sure the country never rise to greatness. And now, in the midst of this global economical crisis, that rotten thing is quickly strangling the Swedish economy, dragging it down like a giant rock tied to a sinking ship. What this rotten thing is called is socialism, and if the Swedish people ever want to be a nation with anything but the most rudimentary kind of status in the world, they'd better heed my word and get rid of it as soon as they can.

In truth, I do not care about what they do. I am done with Sweden, never intending to go back as long as I have any kind of choice in the matter. Asia is my home, now and forever. I may spend a few years in New York or London or wherever my heart will take me for a while, but I doubt that I will ever leave the Asian continent permanently.

Anyway, back to the subject at hand. Where was I? Oh, yes, parties. And clubbing, going shopping with friends, hanging out in coffee shops, or just generally hanging out downtown. As all of that tend to cost more money than I currently have at my disposal, I haven't really had the opportunity to do very much of it this last month or two, unfortunately enough.

What I have done, on the other hand, is registering with a few more modelling agencies. I think I am registered with seven of them now. Nothing has come from it so far - but I have an audition for a TV commercial coming up this Saturday, followed by a small job as an extra in a Japanese TV drama on Sunday. Hopefully things will start rolling on from there. I do know I could really use the money.

I got notice from CSN a week or so ago, that apparently I will only be able to borrow about half of the money needed for tuition fees to the University of Hong Kong. Which means eather my modelling career really takes of from here on, allowing me to earn the money needed that way, or I stay in Japan for couple more years, working my way to sufficient amounts of cash the old fashioned way. Needless to say I would prefer the former, even though the idea of staying in Tokyo for a while does have its own kind of charm.

A week or two ago my computer suddenly decided to break down. Got it back today, to my great relief. And to the great relief of Legato as well, whose computer I have been occupying more than he would have preferred. What really makes me happy is the fact that all my pictures and the rest of the stuff on my hard drive was still there! I hadn't expected that, as they told me they might have had to restore the whole thing to scratch. But apparently that wasn't necessary. :D

I wrote the JLPT last weekend, by the way. The Japanese Language Proficiency Test. Level 3, to be precise. Sarah and I have a bet worth a thousand yen in effect about who gets the better result on that test. And to Sarah's great misfurtune, though of course she wont admit it until we get the actual results, those thousand yen will be mine. She knows more kanji than me, admittedly, and has a larger vocablulary as well. But I have my strong points in the grammar, and I did score really well on the other parts as well - I am sure of that. The next great challange is the level 2 test next year. It's supposedly considerably harder - but I am intent on passing it the first chance I get.

Now I can't actually come up with anything more to write about... except that I will soon need to open that Japanese bank account I have been planning to open for some time now. So with that said, I suppose I will now take my leave, get some dinner, and start studying. Cause I still haven't done that today. Should I remember anything else of interest that happened last month, I will let you know. And I do promise to be more active from now on in letting you know of my future advetures in this beautiful city. I wish you all a continued good day.