Tears, Buddhas, and International Mayhem.

(Note: Because there's a lot of pictures, and they're big files, I compressed them to a small size. So if you're interested in the details, click the pictures to enlarge them. Nerd nerd nerd nerd!)

Welcome to what I'm thinking will be the last blog of my life in Tsuchiura, Ibaraki. It's been a good time, but it's time to move on to bigger cities, closer to Tokyo, and more money. By that I mean Saitama. But first, I'll be coming home for a week to see all of you!

So, last week was graduation for the 3rd graders (as in the 15 year olds moving on to high school). The shotsugyoushiki (or in english- graduation ceremony) was one of the most moving things I've ever seen. See, in Japan, it's much more socially "acceptable" for boys to cry. Needless to say, everyone, teachers, parents, students, graduating and younger alike, boys and girls, were crying. It was so sad and nice at the same time. The 2nd graders sang a kind of goodbye song to the 3rd graders and this was when the heart strings really felt the tugging. It was a beautiful experience though, and I don't think i'll ever forget it. Unless I start taking some crazy drugs. Here's some pictures. Very formal, right? The women teachers of the graduating students wore kimonos too, which was kinda cool.



Receiving the diploma-thingy.


After the ceremony, everyone goes outside to say goodbye to the students, but the mood was much happier and light-hearted. I was pretty popular out here, and took a picture with a bunch of the kids. Here's me with some of my favorite students, especially the punk-rock-loving boy to my right, and the two girls to my left. Funny girls that I passed a lot of time with during the cleaning time when students and english teacher alike didn't want to clean.


Then the weekend came. And it came hard. All over the place. After work, Friday, I headed into Tokyo for the international lineup of a lifetime. There was me, Hoko and Ayumi of Japan, Andrea and Tatiana of Switzerland, and Suzuki and Erika of half-Japanese half-other decent. We hit up MoMo Paradise first, for some always excited all-you-can-eat shabu-shabu accompanied by all-you-can-drink. Let the fun begin.


It was at the end of the meal when Tatiana pulled out something magical from her purse. For 500 yen, she found portable iPod speakers, and my night was officially made. Here's a picture of a few of us in the subway heading to Roppongi for some partying. I'm holding the speakers and jamming to Daft Punk or Justice. Pretty sure I was rocking it on the train and maybe annoying a couple salarymen here or there. It's okay though, Friday night in Tokyo and that can be tolerated from badass foreigners like myself.


Some other people have better pictures documenting this part of the night. But let's just say, things went downhill fast.



Tatiana and Andrea were kick-ass enough to let me sleep at their hotel in Shinjuku, so we went back and I crashed hard. Then I had to wake up early as balls to make it to Manami's graduation. I'm a sweet boyfriend aren't I? Even though I was hungover as all hell, it was cool being a foreigner in the midst of an almost entirely female student body, all wearing kimonos, and many of which were English majors. Heh heh heh heh. Her school is near Tokyo University, the best school in all of Asia, so we went and checked it out. Here's the famous red gates marking the entrance to campus.



Looked like a nice school.

To end the weekend, Manami and I did something that was on my list of things I must do before leaving Tsuchiura. Good timing. Ya see, just 2 train stops away from me is THE WORLD'S BIGGEST STATUE IN THE WORLD ON THE EARTH. It's a free-standing Buddha that I can see from my school, but had never seen up close. This thing is MASSIVE and towers over everything. It's 2.5 times as big as the Statue of Liberty and I think 3 times the volume. It's actually kind of haunting. Not to mention the statue is standing over a sprawling Buddhist cemetary. Here's some pictures, including Manami and my best impressions of the Enlightened One. Are we gonna go to hell for that one?





And finally, the last poker night in Tsuchiura. I only lost 80 yen. Not bad. I'm gonna miss the weekly poker games for sure.


SEE YOU SOON EVERYONE!!

Better late than never.

So this past week, one of my fondest memories from the first time I came to Japan was relived. Yes, McDonalds brought back the teritama sandwich. What's that you ask? It's a teriyaki-battered burger with a fried egg mcmuffin-style egg on it. Fuck it's good. I took a picture of it, but the picture didn't do it justice, so I feel I shouldn't put it here.

This past weekend kicked ass. Why? One word, or name actually. TATS!

Yes, Tatiana (of Mustique fame) is in Tokyo, so we hung out all night Friday. All freakin' night. We hit da clubbbbz. Club Yellow to be exact. Here's some pictures!


What can I say...I show up to the club, the ladies flock to me. Here's Manami, Erisa, and Tat's friends. I can't remember their names though....I wonder why....(Hint- alcohol.)


Word.


Ended up getting home at 7:30 or so in the morning. Here's the aftermath of clubbing in Tokyo. Thank Manami for this one. This was on the train home.



Saturday- sleep and dinner at Aoi, the awesome teppanyaki place near my house.
Sunday- BLOC PARTY! Yes, Bloc Party was in Tokyo and they totally kicked ass. Before heading to the show, Manami and I hit up Shibuya and Daikanyama (a hipster shopping area with like 4 Evisu stores and lots of European-style cafes and roads). Here's a shot from the main intersection of Shibuya. Cute right?


Bloc Party doing what they do, sold out in Tokyo.