TOKYO
On Saturday (your Friday), a group of us JSP students went into Tokyo to look around and go to a concert. It was pretty much amazing, and we definitely plan on going back. We didn’t do much in terms of actually sightseeing, but we did get to simply wander around Harajuko.
The concert was also one of the most insane things ever. First, everyone else was dressed to the nines. You will see what this means in the pictures below. It was a VIsual K concert, which pretty much (as far as I know) means that the band consisted on men in elaborate, ornate drag. The crowd was amazing too: insanely... organized? They all knew the ‘hand-dance’ they were supposed to be doing during each song. And they all had matching flags they whipped out and during one song and matching fans for another.
In conclusion: Awesome.
THINGS I LOVE THURSDAY - JAPAN VERSION
(let’s all ignore the fact that it’s actually Friday here)
This week I love:
Japanese food (!!!!!!); my host family (Yuki-chan, Ojii-san, Mayu-chan, Shoko-chan, and Tomo-kun); my room and my Marie comforter; the fact that my ‘commute’ to school is less than five minutes; being in a Japanese class with one other student and having a TA regardless (!!!); the JSP Peer Assistants; the TIU campus; my Japanese pop culture class (anime-madness abounds - I need to work on my manga-reading if I’m going to fit in); my aircon (it is soooo hot here!); having host-mom walk me step-by-step through daily life in Japanese; my host siblings, who are adorable; my fellow JSP students; tomato ice-cream (which is way better than one would guess, and worth eating just for the weird factor); Japanese malls, because they are so familiar; being complemented on my mad chopstick skills; being praised for my ability to eat anything (!!); hearing (in Japanese!) that I look like a doll/anime character (!!!!!!!!!!); JAPAN.
Japan in pictures.
So far, all is awesome. Maybe too awesome - I am eating a ton, and am speaking mostly English. But I am not complaining.
London was fabulous. Even though I am currently exhausted from the deadly combination of too little sleep and too many days of go-go-go, I am not regretting a single moment of action. In three weeks, I saw more than I ever imagined I could. But of the countless sights seen and the numerous adventures had, I do have my favorites. Next time you’re in London (invite me!), make sure to try to get the following done:
Chichester:
Because it is totally adorable - quaint and picturesque and so full of history it will blow your mind. The wall running down certain roads? Is 1,00 years old. And you can touch it. Think on that for a minute. The shopping is awesome, the food delicious. Added bonus: The train ride from London will take you through green country side and by castles!
A Market:
Personally, I am a fan of Cambden Market. Portebllo is supposed to be pretty awesome too. The point is that while in London, you must go to a market. They take up entire streets, are crowded and diverse and there is this energy in the air that - I swear - makes you giddy. The food is amazing, and the selection makes you dizzy, because everything looks good but there are simply too many choices. They are also an awesome souvenir stop. I love going to the markets.
Platform 9 3/4 at King’s Cross:
My inner Harry Potter nerd died and went to heaven when we finally found the platform they have erected in honor of Harry. There is a trolley tuck in the wall, a sign that says ‘Platform 9 3/4’ and a feeling of incredible joy all around. Angels sing in the background. Seriously. Just know that you want to heads past the sign that directs you to Platforms nine and up and keeping heading towards 0-8. This makes no sense, but it is The Way. So do it.
Stonehenge:
I repeat myself. But. Still - DO IT.
And rent a motor boat to ride around the Thames. Seriously, one of my favorite half hours of the whole entire trip. The area is gorgeous - there are willows and rolling hills, a castle and ferris wheel in the backdrop. Because it near the palace, there are swans (one of the royal animals) everywhere. The town is sweet and small, perfectly adorable. Windsor Palace is insanely regal, and the employees some of the nicest I have ever met.
Science Museum Adult Night:
Two words: Silent disco.
(Picture 100+ adults with headphones on. Everyone is dancing, a few are singing - no one is doing the same thing, no one is singing the same song. It was fabulous.) (And, ok, there was other stuff too: comedians and actors and food and art projects and trivia and contests and it’s a museum, for crying out loud. But. Seriously. The silent disco.)
Harrod’s:
Now, I only got to spend about two hours here, and let me tell you - that was not nearly enough time. While there, I only saw about three floors, two toy stores, a pet store, a furniture department, and the women’s shoes. And the chocolate bar. That too. Which I highly, highly recommend. But from my limited experience, Harrod’s is amazing. Of course, everything is about 8,0000 times too expensive for me, but its still fun to look at the pretty stuff.
British Science Museum:
Again, I did not get to spend enough time here. Forty-five minutes is pretty much just enough to make you realize that you really, really wish you didn’t have to go to group presentation and could instead spend oh, about 8 hours looking at all the old, cool stuff. I did get to see the Egyptian section, though. So interesting! So amazing! That thing? Is 4,000 years old! What? If (when) I go back to London, I will devote a whole entire day to the museum, for sure.
Ireland:
Does this count? It should. Because if you’re in London, you are an hour away from Dublin, and you should make the trip. It will be worth it. I promise. I only spent one night there, but I can already say that Ireland is awesome and I will be visiting again.
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There are, of course, many other fun times to have. I am sure I am forgetting something super important ad super fun, but I cannot think of what it might be...
This week I love:
Windsor: The castle and the town. The castle, because it was beautiful and incredible and huge. Plus, the employees there were some of the nicest I have ever met. They were smiley and helpful and went out of their way to be accommodating. The town was awesome too, because the Thames ran through it and for 22 pounds, five people could rent a motor boat for half and hour and cruise around. The experience was one of my favorite.
Silent Discos: Headphones with multiple channels. Hundreds of people dancing and singing to music only they hear. Pretty much the coolest thing ever.
Honorable Mentions:
Julia’s Bulgarian food; carrot cake; Temple Church; Westminster Palace; chocolate covered strawberries; looking out over Big Ben and the London Eye from a penthouse club; chugging mango/apple/orange smoothies; talking springs in really, really uncomfortable beds; realizing that your head/arm/backpack has finally been released by the angry tube doors.
(I do not love fire alarms. Third one in two weeks. What the heck?)
