MomoのKokoro

今朝０６３０新宿について、０７００までに白金台へ帰った。　週末は、すごく楽しかったよ＾＾町やへ帰った時に、めっちゃ懐かしかったなぁ。。４月 から６月までそこに住んでいた経験は、三年生の一番いい思い出だろう。。研究を行われて、友達とワールドカップを見て、自分で色々な料理を作ってみた。

Shinjuku is bustling at 630am in the morning, with the salarymen in their impeccably ironed suits, and the perfectly madeup OLs in the trains. Everyone looks a little sleepy, and hidden in their own world.

The weekend was excellent. I couldn't get much sleep on the night bus, but at least there wasn't a stop like once every hour.. which was great. The first time the bus stopped, almost everyone got off, and sleep-groggy me wandered off as well, only to find out that I could have stayed in my seat if I had known! It always amazes me how some people get off at every stop - either they must drink a lot of water, or are curious to see how the comfort stops along the Kanto-Kansai routes are..

The weekend was lovely, because I had the chance to hang out with my friends (yay^^) Senpai was down with a cold, and I felt bad that I wasn't there, because sometimes I almost feel like her older sis/mom, or just compelled to take care of her lol She is like a little child somehow, a little absent-minded.

It made me nostalgic just walking down the path back to where I used to live.. I lived there for only 2.5 months, but it somehow felt longer than that. She is so generous and cheerful and extroverted, which is a good complement to me (usually aloof and sometimes even cold). Perhaps some of her sunny nature has influenced me.. or perhaps I have just learnt how to seem to connect to most people. I would definitely want to live in a place like that next time!

Ideal little house:

1) Machiya-style

2) Ofuro overlooking a Zen rock garden

3) Tatami rooms (because they are so fragrant)

Met up with K, who taught me a lot about Afi and "Seek One's Prime", and about "Straight-edge" culture. Fascinating, if only because I am a complete ignoramus about punk. Had katsukura with J, and the meal was fantastic even if abysmally unhealthy - fried everything, but the cabbage drizzled with yuzu sauce was oishikatta. And J was telling me about how her former host family's brother had just died in a car accident. It was somber, and what made it even more sad was that the family's other son had also died in an accident some years ago. The pain must be so deep.

(Which reminds me again of how I shouldn't just let time pass away like that. Lifetimes ebb away just like that)

And oh yes, C. Where can I begin.

Only two more weeks left in Japan.. nooo >_< I like this place a lot, and I would love to return to work in Kansai or Tokyo. I know of people who have been here for years and are jaded.. my entire Japan experience will be some nine months, so I guess I have yet to be seriously disillusioned. But I like the country, even though I am aware of how imperfect and frustrating it can often be.

I would choose Tokyo over Philadelphia/NYC any time.

Posted in: Tokyo on Tuesday, July 11, 2006 at