September 26-October 2, 2005
Hello everyone again
Hope you are all well and keeping safe - I have just got home late tonight and read about the latest Bali bombings - hope no one knows people who were injured at all and I would like to express my anger over the cowardly attack.
On a lighter and happier note, I have once again had a jam-packed weekof highs (only highs hehe), so here are some of them..
Last Monday 26th September I had the dayy off so caught up on quite abit of paperwork which I had to do for my UNSW back in Sydney. Studied a lot of kanji, and progressively my understanding of all the Chinese characters is coming together - I guess all I can do is study them, because the more you study, the more you understand.Went to Emerald's house and we cooked pasta together and had some winetoo - was good to relax by way of cooking a lovely meal. Attempted to help a Spanish friend, Nadia cook rice in the rice cooker, to no avail, becauseI didn't have it set to the right temperature, so for an hour it wascooking at snail's pace!!
Tuesday 27th I had two more orientations at Waseda - one for the libraryand one for the computer resources. Both were absolutely exhillirating(not!) but both were important to inform me of the way the uni library andcomputer systems work. Went to Starbucks (very "American" of me) and sat for a couple of hours and read Bill Clinton's autobiography (which I am almost finished). For you readers out there, it is a great read - very detailing of hisrole as President and the comings and goings of policy in America. I havemany books to read before the end of the year - following Bill'sautobiography, I am going to read the official 9/11 Commission Report on Terrorist Attacks In The United States - a really interesting read no doubt. Following that, I will keep up with the Cinton's and read Hillary's autobiography, Living History. I don't know, but I think I will be the most informed person in the world on the shortcomings and successes of the Clinton's by the end of the year!!!
Following a great coffee at Starbucks (ehich I desperately needed), afew of us headed to Shibuya (south of Tokyo) because a friend of a friend of a friend was doing some DJ work at a local club. We enjoyed the drum and base beats and a few drinks until 10, before I caught the train home.
On Wednesday 28th had to pop into uni and pick up my schedule for this semester. Very happy about having Wedesndays off!! Got classes all day Thursday and Friday from 9-6pm. One class on Monday afternoon and 4hours of class on Tuesday.
Visited Roppongi Hills and went to the Mori Art Museum to see anexhibition of Leonardo Da Vinci's studies on biology, geometry, astrology etc - for those of you who have read The Da Vinci Code you will know exactly whatI'm talking about - for those of you who don't - go out and buy the book!!It was a fascinating exhibition and really intrigued me.
On Thursday 29th, Kazuya came to see me in Tokyo. We really took the day slowly and rekaxed a lot - found a great little "Chinatown" about twostops from my station and had a nice lunch. Walked around Shinjuku and did a bit of window shopping, before meeting Ky-lee and Emerald for dinner at Takadanobaba. Went to a really nice Italian Restaurant - very rustic design - had some great pizza, pasta, and garlic bread.
Went out to a Karaoke Nomihoudai - all you can sing and drink(alcoholic) for usually an hour to two hours for a set price. Of course we sang all our favourites!! Was a great night...Kazuya stayed the night with me, so was good to catch up with him.
On Friday 30th, I had uni all day - my first official day at uni in 31/2 months!!! Felt quite weird actually!! I had classes from 9-6pm, soKazuya slepped in at my place and then met me at uni for lunch. He went to Emerald's place in the afternoon, as she didn't have any classes. I sawhim off on the bus from Shinjuku station at 7pm ater a nice dinner. He hasnow started his new job in Hakone, which is about 2 hours on the bus southfrom Tokyo. He is working as a waiter in the restaurant of one of the most reputable hotel/resorts in Hakone - it was one of his dreams to workthere - and he has achieved it, so I am very proud of him! He, like me, hasevery Wednesday off (he requested it actually), so we will be able to meetevery Wednesday. Next week he actually had Wednesday and Thursday off, so he will stay at my place on Wednesday and Thursday evening.I am very happy with the way things have worked out.
On Saturday 1st October (yesterday), I slept in (much needed) and did abit of reading before going to meet Emerald for lunch. e also went to themovies and saw Star Wars - Episode 3 - the final installment from George Lucas, after nearly 35 years. I didn't really enjoy it, mainly because I am not at all into science fiction - but Emerald argued with me of course that it isn't just about science fiction - the movie touches on very political notions.
Following the movie, I met my long-time friend Kanae and she came backto my place to stay with me. She was in Tokyo helping out at an IndianFestival which was happening this weekend here in Tokyo.
So, today, 2nd October, I went to Yoyogi Park with her, to the festival,and I did some volunteer working - helping sell some traditional and modern Indian things at one of the markets they had going. Enjoyed some great butter chicken and naan bread and then watched Kanae model an Indian sari on the concert stage in front of 200 people.
Following that, met up with Ky-lee and Emerald and another Japanesefriend - Takao - and we went to Harajuku to see the "Harajuku girls." They are swarms of girls and boys dressed up - and I mean dressed up - Japanese fashion style - gothic to the max - and they all pose for tourists to take photos of them - so we did the touristy thing!!!! Did a bit of window shopping and then I went to Shinjuku to an Australian pub to watch the NRL Grand Final -Tigers vs Cowboys. Was great to hear some Aussie accents, eat a meat pie and tomato sauce, drink Crown Lagar and sing the National Anthem!!
Had a really great day - taken from the plains of India to the heart of rugby - Australia!
This week is set to be a little quiter - with 4 days at universitythings should finally fall into a bit of a regular schedule.
Take care everyone and keep in touch.
Best,
Tim
xxx
Hope you are all well and keeping safe - I have just got home late tonight and read about the latest Bali bombings - hope no one knows people who were injured at all and I would like to express my anger over the cowardly attack.
On a lighter and happier note, I have once again had a jam-packed weekof highs (only highs hehe), so here are some of them..
Last Monday 26th September I had the dayy off so caught up on quite abit of paperwork which I had to do for my UNSW back in Sydney. Studied a lot of kanji, and progressively my understanding of all the Chinese characters is coming together - I guess all I can do is study them, because the more you study, the more you understand.Went to Emerald's house and we cooked pasta together and had some winetoo - was good to relax by way of cooking a lovely meal. Attempted to help a Spanish friend, Nadia cook rice in the rice cooker, to no avail, becauseI didn't have it set to the right temperature, so for an hour it wascooking at snail's pace!!
Tuesday 27th I had two more orientations at Waseda - one for the libraryand one for the computer resources. Both were absolutely exhillirating(not!) but both were important to inform me of the way the uni library andcomputer systems work. Went to Starbucks (very "American" of me) and sat for a couple of hours and read Bill Clinton's autobiography (which I am almost finished). For you readers out there, it is a great read - very detailing of hisrole as President and the comings and goings of policy in America. I havemany books to read before the end of the year - following Bill'sautobiography, I am going to read the official 9/11 Commission Report on Terrorist Attacks In The United States - a really interesting read no doubt. Following that, I will keep up with the Cinton's and read Hillary's autobiography, Living History. I don't know, but I think I will be the most informed person in the world on the shortcomings and successes of the Clinton's by the end of the year!!!
Following a great coffee at Starbucks (ehich I desperately needed), afew of us headed to Shibuya (south of Tokyo) because a friend of a friend of a friend was doing some DJ work at a local club. We enjoyed the drum and base beats and a few drinks until 10, before I caught the train home.
On Wednesday 28th had to pop into uni and pick up my schedule for this semester. Very happy about having Wedesndays off!! Got classes all day Thursday and Friday from 9-6pm. One class on Monday afternoon and 4hours of class on Tuesday.
Visited Roppongi Hills and went to the Mori Art Museum to see anexhibition of Leonardo Da Vinci's studies on biology, geometry, astrology etc - for those of you who have read The Da Vinci Code you will know exactly whatI'm talking about - for those of you who don't - go out and buy the book!!It was a fascinating exhibition and really intrigued me.
On Thursday 29th, Kazuya came to see me in Tokyo. We really took the day slowly and rekaxed a lot - found a great little "Chinatown" about twostops from my station and had a nice lunch. Walked around Shinjuku and did a bit of window shopping, before meeting Ky-lee and Emerald for dinner at Takadanobaba. Went to a really nice Italian Restaurant - very rustic design - had some great pizza, pasta, and garlic bread.
Went out to a Karaoke Nomihoudai - all you can sing and drink(alcoholic) for usually an hour to two hours for a set price. Of course we sang all our favourites!! Was a great night...Kazuya stayed the night with me, so was good to catch up with him.
On Friday 30th, I had uni all day - my first official day at uni in 31/2 months!!! Felt quite weird actually!! I had classes from 9-6pm, soKazuya slepped in at my place and then met me at uni for lunch. He went to Emerald's place in the afternoon, as she didn't have any classes. I sawhim off on the bus from Shinjuku station at 7pm ater a nice dinner. He hasnow started his new job in Hakone, which is about 2 hours on the bus southfrom Tokyo. He is working as a waiter in the restaurant of one of the most reputable hotel/resorts in Hakone - it was one of his dreams to workthere - and he has achieved it, so I am very proud of him! He, like me, hasevery Wednesday off (he requested it actually), so we will be able to meetevery Wednesday. Next week he actually had Wednesday and Thursday off, so he will stay at my place on Wednesday and Thursday evening.I am very happy with the way things have worked out.
On Saturday 1st October (yesterday), I slept in (much needed) and did abit of reading before going to meet Emerald for lunch. e also went to themovies and saw Star Wars - Episode 3 - the final installment from George Lucas, after nearly 35 years. I didn't really enjoy it, mainly because I am not at all into science fiction - but Emerald argued with me of course that it isn't just about science fiction - the movie touches on very political notions.
Following the movie, I met my long-time friend Kanae and she came backto my place to stay with me. She was in Tokyo helping out at an IndianFestival which was happening this weekend here in Tokyo.
So, today, 2nd October, I went to Yoyogi Park with her, to the festival,and I did some volunteer working - helping sell some traditional and modern Indian things at one of the markets they had going. Enjoyed some great butter chicken and naan bread and then watched Kanae model an Indian sari on the concert stage in front of 200 people.
Following that, met up with Ky-lee and Emerald and another Japanesefriend - Takao - and we went to Harajuku to see the "Harajuku girls." They are swarms of girls and boys dressed up - and I mean dressed up - Japanese fashion style - gothic to the max - and they all pose for tourists to take photos of them - so we did the touristy thing!!!! Did a bit of window shopping and then I went to Shinjuku to an Australian pub to watch the NRL Grand Final -Tigers vs Cowboys. Was great to hear some Aussie accents, eat a meat pie and tomato sauce, drink Crown Lagar and sing the National Anthem!!
Had a really great day - taken from the plains of India to the heart of rugby - Australia!
This week is set to be a little quiter - with 4 days at universitythings should finally fall into a bit of a regular schedule.
Take care everyone and keep in touch.
Best,
Tim
xxx
posted by Tim at 10:38 AM
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