wtf is a Mountain Crone

Crapload of schoolwork this week, but I will take a brizzeak!

Yesterday my mom's friend brought me to the Tokyo Noh Theatre. Noh is the origin of kabuki and traditional Japanese performing arts. The theater itself was amazing because the setup was completely different from your usual stage, plus the actors all walk SUPER SLOWLY for their entrance and exit. The day I went was "Oni-Gawara"/The Demon-Faced Tile and "Yamamba"/The Mountain Crone (Japanese mythological creature). I will admit that I fell asleep within the first 4 minutes and took 2 naps in the beginning of the performance, but this was also one of the rare times I appreciated being half-Japanese. The huge impact of historic Japanese culture used within the actor's language and script was honestly colorful and beautiful. Either way, I felt like I saw Japan all over again! :)

Quick shady picture of part of the theater since cameras weren't allowed:

A Mountain Crone...

Congrats~

After 2 hours of Japanese homework (1 hour of figuring out the furigana of kanji I didn't know by doodling on my nintendo DS), I went to work out.

6:30-8 Hip Hop Jazz
8-9:30 Jazz
9:30-11 Pilates

I <3 Life.

Oh, and congrats to one of my dorm-mate for just getting engaged to a Japanese native!! (freaky thing is he's my age)

10 Things I Hate About You

1.) You pluck your eyebrows.
2.) You wear heels on your shoes/sometimes even boots.
3.) You have a hairstyle consisting of tails and other fancy crap. Straightening your hair?!
4.) You go to tanning salons.
5.) You have One pierced ear instead of 2, and if you feel like it--you wear dangly charms or something flashy/barf.
6.) You wear too much jewelry.
7.) You don't hold doors for girls--any girls.
8.) Your average male height in this country is 5'7''.
9.) You need to get over the fear of embarrassment. Man up, have some ballz, where's the swag.
10.) But mostly, I shouldn't have started this at all because I'm a mess even back in the States.

~this was dedicated to Japanese guys in general

Salmon & Spinach @ Shimoda

Since this past Friday, Golden Week has been going on--which in my case, means I only have one day of school this week on Thursday :). A lot has been going on since this break has happened because Ryan came to visit from Kyoto, however last night was personally kinda big for me.

I moved into my Keio dorm in September but never used my Kitchen to cook, or even eat at the common tables, hell I didn't even watch TV in the lounge. But for some reason I was talking to Fred recently (floor-mate from Belgium) and when he heard that I didn't like French cuisine, he wanted me to try his Salmon cream dish with potatoes. ANNNDD THENN that connects to last night, where a bunch of us worked together from buying ingredients, chopping, cooking, yada yada...and it was GREAT. The salmon with leek in the cream was something I definitely would not have eaten at home, plus the Cream spinach/onion soup that Ayano made was new and incredibly good too. We gathered about 10 people into our 4th floor lounge, and as my first time embracing my lounge--I couldn't have asked for a better way.



Just made me realize how much of a change this year has been...and that I don't want to go back home to forever again.

dancin in September

Guess what. I finally started dancing this week. After a 3 week delay from something I've done to my body, I am back on track and Optimistic about it. It felt great to encounter that happy exciting feeling I get when I learn choreography that fits my mood perfectly. The classes here are not much different than ones back in L.A.--except everything is done in Japanese ha. I'm just so grateful that I was able to get this feeling again before heading back home. All that's left is to stick a big fat middle finger right back at Them. Thank you for making me stronger.

This past week, I went to my first pro baseball game with Jun (meanass Frenchenese)--Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters vs. Fukuoaka Softbank Seahawks at the Tokyo Dome. Boohoo that Darvish didn't end up pitching, but yayhoo to a really great Japanese experience. I don't think Lakers fans have full out cheering songs? Yea, both teams were full out and fully prepared vocally/physically for the game. Our seats were really good considering we had cheapass tickets, and oh my, the selection of ball game food and beer was insane. Mos def down for another (only) Ham fighters game :)

Last night was another huge international party hosted by 3 guys at the Willing Setagaya dorm--one of them being Nick Adams-Cohen (hollaback San Marino!) This time it was themed Banana and Beer party lol. But before that, me Jess Marj...and I guess special guest Ambrose, played the marker game. Ugh they made it sound so easy before actually playing, but I was so not crackin the whip. We had to travel from Yoyogi-->Shibuya-->Sangenjaya at 8 p.m. on a Saturday night lookin like dis...


On top of that, Golden Week is starting later this week, yowza which means I need to babysit Ryan. AND THEN David (+ Spencer) are coming in June and flippin Okinawa-in' it, ow ow!

1:30 a.mmmmm

First of all, congrats a million times to CADC on taking 2nd place at this past weekend's Fusion competition. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XclUQ9TmBY
3 more months till I see all your crazy faces, dizzam.

This post is not really gonna be an update, sorry sorry. I'm talking to Brian right now and we are just remembering the earlier times of our EAP study abroad program. The summer was soooo chill/good/perfect, Great schedule. I honestly miss going out with like literally 10 people from EAP everyday at around 4/5 p.m. to go run/ultimate frisbee/soccer. And ugh the 3 minute walk to the station from our mansion, the Lawson's right by our building. The Daiei just 5 minutes away. THE BIG PARK WITH LIGHTS ON AT NIGHT.

Tomorrow I go to a ball game. this was pointless. it's 1:30 am. But I get to see Darvish tomorrow.

Happy Face

Just wanted to add that things are magically turning up--since end of March/Hokkaido trip. Nothing major, nothing big, no idea why, just things are getting better. Do I want to go back to L.A.? No, not yet. I'm finally at that phase now :)

On top of that, one of my Belgian friend in my dorm offered me and Hanna some Belgian chocolate (Cote d'or)--apparently it's the most popular brand in Belgium and is also well known in the European countries surrounding it. I've never seen/heard of it, but it is balls to the wall good. So smooth, perfectly rich/mild mix, Golden.