i will only get my internet up and running on 22 sep. i guess its too long to keep bloggin in my word document. i decided that i should copy and paste it today. .. here goes.

8 Sept 2009

A new beginning

It probably still hasn’t set in that I am already in the so called land of my dreams… I rem waking up yesterday morning thinking: this is it. Something like the feeling when I prepare myself to go for my last paper of the term kind of kinda surrendering feeling. Yet this morning, after a long and uncomfortable journey of 6.5 hours on the plane, I arrived at Narita Airport. I cant exactly say that I’m not familiar with it since its like I think my 4^th time in that airport. At this point, a scene dawned upon me. I remember when we had our so called grad trip in Japan after Sec 4, with me, shiro, Gary and Rambo, Gary and I were waiting for Rambo at Narita and we were holding my viewcam, sorta like hiding from Rambo coz we took the cheaper Malaysia airlines while he took SIA. So we were filming him from far it was damn funny. Kinda wana look at those footages again.

But anyway, coming back to the trip this time, We arrived, and although we only expected our so called ‘Big Sister’ from Japanese Association Singapore coming, there this other middle aged man who came to pick us up. His name is Suzuki san. And although he claims he’s just the chauffeur for the day, he’s actually one of the directors of JSA, and also like the CEO of one of the biggest Japanese Insurance companies. My heart sank when I heard that. But He was an amazing character, though I just spent a short couple of hours with him.

Cut the long story, I had a 30 min introduction of the hostel from this warden who cant speak English, luckily I had Ichi San, the big sister there to confirm on some details and also act as my interpreter. Shortly after which, we went to this department store to get some stuff for Joanna, and off they went to her hostel which was abt another hr’s ride away… there and then I was left on my own. The rest of the day was a little adventure on its own.

I took over like 5 boxes of barang from MC, the guy who was staying here before me, and so I laid out all my stuff, put them in place, almost in the same way as how my rm was arranged in SG, of course with a lot less stuff. Before I could finish, I got too tired and fell asleep. All the while with this very thrown on my own/ lonely kind of feeling lingering. As I was thinking of what to do next, I am overwhelmed at the things I know I have to do, but still, I cant help but be soaked in that left on own feeling. I don’t even feel like going to get my admin done, like foreigner registration and stuff. But well. I woke up, and realized that MC didn’t leave me an adaptor to plug in my SG applicances, and knowing that I couldn’t survive this night without my laptop, I set of on bicycles and cycled to the same dept store which was about a 5 min cycle away. Its pretty convenient. My hostel has a 4 hour bicycle borrowing policy, which was provided free of charge. This means I can use the bicycle to familiarize with the surroundings, buy groceries, get other necessities, but cannot use it to bring me to the station to go to school… I guess I have to figure out the best way to get to school without a bicycle to bring me to the station quickly. It sounds like a 20 min walk to station everyday. Imagine my travelling hours. Luckily I figured out how to put videos in my ipod quickly, I guess I am relying on that to get me to my destination…

So well, I went on to get the adaptor, which I didn’t know if it would work, coz the sales guy at the electrical appliances section gave me a disclaimer that it was for Japanese appliances for use abroad and not the other way rd. I looked at the shape of the holes and went ahead with it.

Came back, went for my first meal at the Shokudo (canteen) in my hostel. It was pretty gd. 3 menus a day for each meal. My meal cost me about 370 yen, which is about S$5.50. it had a big rice, with katsu maguro, which is like Tuna fish cooked in those kotsu style. Deep fried with the batter. With miso soup and salad. The rice filled to the brim, tho its just fish to go with it. Haa. Feeling fulfilled, I came back to my rm and continued with my packing, of which I think I am almost done. Looks familiar huh.. the way I put things ahha.

So well, here I am, taking my 1030 的飞机。

I wonder what kind of a person I will turn out at the end of this thing.

Once again, it was emphasized that I couldn’t bring any friends into my room. Even when they come to visit me, have to let the front desk know. And they seem like they are really strict. Even when MC left me 5 boxes, they requested that I only leave 2 boxes coz its like taking space in their office when he’s not ard. So well, guys, those who were thinking of free accoms in my Villa, haha. Well. I’m sorry, the sea views not urs to share hahaa. Anyway, yeah I do have a sea view. Its like living in East coast park the UDMC chalet. Morning wake up, go past a fence it’s the sea liao. I am going to jog tmr morning and i will tell you how it feels. I am going to be very fit here I think. I saw an ourdoor bball court today, nobody played there. I might get a ball haha and maybe shoot there myself. But shit, this means I have to get bball shoes. Haha.

And… I have push up bars left behind for me.

Ok I guess its time to feed myself with some of the overloading info given to me already.

I just wanted to be a ghost. I din wana see anyone I knew.

9 September 2009

Things I did today:

1. was so reluctant to get up coz of the great weather. Ended up waking up only at like 11am or something. If this goes on I don’t know how I am going to get to sch man.
2. I went for a jog immediately after hydrating myself with Pokari Sweat haha. In my fridge, there is a bottle of 2l Coke, a bottle of Pocari Sweat and a bottle of 午後の紅茶　milk tea. Also there are 6 cans of Asahi Fresh Beer which I haven’t touched. My run was like an orientation run. Went to find the way to the jogging track beside the sea, but there was no way to get there! Its like every building was sticking to each other without those gaps tat will allow you to go to the other side unlike Singapore. On top of that, every apartment has a sign that says ‘CCTV in use’. I bet I’m not the first monkey thinking of climbing over those fences. In the end I made a big round, and with the assurance of some old man on a bicycle going thru a gate that says, ‘関係以外立ち入り禁止’which means no unauthorized entry, I went thru this small little side walk that clearly was created by pple walking thru it endlessly. I eventually fulfilled my small little dream of jogging by that little pathway facing the sea in front of my window… at the breakwaters, there were many old men fishing.. I guess this is really the kind of life in a small little town an hour off a city like Tokyo. I’m amongst these men are pple who were once on top of that corporate ladder in Tokyo.
3. following which, I came back had a quick shower to catch the final mins of lunch hours in the canteen where I got a pork curry rice. Things in my canteen is quite cheap but not that cheap. Like S$5 a meal is about normal. The servings of rice is normally pretty generous, which really helps since I go hungry always. But well. I bought miso soup and some cup noodles in my rm as emergency food.
4. after lunch, I headed out to do my ‘Alien registration’. In japanese, its called 外国人登録 which means foreigners registration. But their version of it reads Alien Registration, as if I was from like some other planet. When I was doing it, I realized I forgot to bring my Japan Address. To go back and get it would mean a 20 min bicycle ride back and forth. Luckily I showed the guy on the map where I was staying, and I guess he could find it on the internet or something. Pretty helpful guy. After which I went to a family mart which was like a 7-11, where I got this lemon drink by Kirin. After my first sip then I realized that it was alcohol! It was like 6% alcohol with lemon tinge. So I guess something like a super strong jolly shandy haha. It tasted kinda awful. After getting my registration done, I was half thinking if I should go apply for a banking account but I guess I could take it slow. Haha. In the end I went shopping coz I needed some stuff like more hangers, washing detergent, and towels etc.. so yeah. I went to the same store and got those…
5. was wondering if I should start bringing my camera out and start snapping stuff. But I guess I should take it slow. Somehow I think I shouldn’t even treat this week like I am already in japan. I should like imagine I’m in like this vacuum, like in no one’s land, and really concentrate on impriving myself. Everything else can wait.

10 September

These days, staying alone at home for a long time does not really scare me that much anymore. I have kinda gotten used to the feeling of staying alone for an extended period of time. With every decision you make affecting you in many ways. For example, when I pee I take good care not to be too casual but aim properly, so that I don’t need to clean it tt often. The same goes for making a meal in the rm etc. I hate to wash, and everything I do, I will try to keep my rm clean. Such I guess is one of those things about living all by yourself.

Today I cycled about half across the town, probably the furthest I have ventured so far, to get my bank account working, I also faxed in an application form for internet from my hostel. Internet will have to wait for tmr, while the bank account has failed. They claimed that they need my ID to be up etc. I guess I will try at Takadanobaba branch and see how.

Later in the night… I have been reading Lee Kuan Yew’s book, in hopes of improving my political awareness in SG. In the process of that, I find myself deeply understanding the reasons behind many of the policies that were put in place in SG even til today, and not just take it as it is. I think it might equip me to think of policies in a different light.

In the days before I left Singapore, I met a number of pple. And each time the topic of ‘what do I wana do after this one year?’ comes up, I cant help but consider the admin service. Yes I know its more of the other way round.

Was interrupted by a phone call and it was from Xianna. You cannot imagine how relieved I was to have received this call from her. We ended up speaking from like 930 pm til like 1 am ahha! But yeah. We spoke about everything under the sun, as if like I was catching up with her before I left for japan, just that it was on the phone and I’m alr in japan. Haha. I don’t rem I even had such amts of time to speak to such extents with her in SG. Haha. Its amazing how going overseas frees you up for this and that.

11 September

How befitting. Sept 11. they had Japanese pple singing to remember those who sacrificed during sept 11. its like what. 8 yrs already. How time flies.

Today, as usual, I went to try to do something impt. I setup my bank account with Mitsubishi-Tokyo UFJ bank, at the request of my big sister from JSA, am obviously looking forward to the amt of $ coming in, of which I’d prob have to start doing some budgeting.

I also went to Waseda University for my own short walkaround, just to see how long everything will take. These are the results.

On my way there:

Walking from JAL hostel to Shin Urayasu Station: 17 mins

Waiting time for train: 12 mins

Shin Urayasu to Tokyo Station: 19 mins

Changing lines in Tokyo station: 12 mins

Tokyo to Takadanobaba: 27 mins

Walking from Takadanobaba station to Waseda Uni: 18 mins

Total time taken: 105 mins = 1 hr 45 mins

Wow. Jaw almost dropped.

Coming back:

Walk: 18 mins

Tokyo to Shin Urayasu via chuou line: 1 hr 20 mins

Walk back: 17 mins

Total: 115 mins = 1 hr 55 mins.

Wat kind of commuting hours is this? I guess I am determined to explore getting a bicyle which I will cycle to the station and also maybe take the metro there so that I don’t need to walk that much at that side too. But then again, walking is a nice way to experience also lah. Let’s see.

Was watching lost in translation on the train ride. It really did make it a lot easier to pass time. But.. I am running out of movies. On top of that, my overtime just failed on me. Sian. So well, I don’t know how after I have exhausted my dramas. I guess I can start thinking about what to ask pei bring over this time round. Haha. He is coming dec 25 to 10 jan. 2 weeks here in Tokyo. I guess we will have a lot of fun.

Have been reading memoirs of Lee Kuan Yew, almost like a third of the way thru. I am surprised I am diligently reading it textbookish style, finding a lot of relevance to the policies that were put in place for the better of our lives. At least that’s how it was thought out to be. But I must say every single decision is not an easy one and we always have to attempt to weigh. Its so tough, because its sometimes to intangible… and unmeasurable. Its really tough to please everyone…

….

To be honest I am really really lonely. I feel like a caveman. I know this is good if I can stay disciplined these few days coz this has really been what I’ve been wanting, an extended time without any disturbances, distractions to really do the things I wana do. But I just find it hard. I am probably a lot more of a social animal than my friends. And I find this really hard to survive. Kinda lost in translation. The feeling when you know whatever someone says, u can never understand them 100% even on the surface, not to mention trying to read between the lines, trying to understand in depth exactly how a person is thinking. Not I really understand how precious it is to have someone really understand you, and I guess its something we take for granted if we’re at home most of the time. I guess its times like this that just meeting someone from Singapore, don’t need to care who he/she is, its already such happy stuff. That obviously explains my long conversation with Xianna last night. Haha. I guess when internet comes, all is going to revert back to those old ways. Of like just passing kinda feelings of connectivity.

What a sentimental night. I’m like jotting down my thoughts every 5 mins. Since its Friday, I decided that I’d reward myself with a beer, since I’ve been doing pushups and situps in my rm. I guess I can more than compensate for those calories burnt these nights. Haha. I doubt it will carry on. So well, my first can of that carton I bought is going to go down now. Along with that first banana from that bunch I bought the other day. Haha. Wat great companionship. Beer and banana. Am half thinking of going to knock on some Japanese uncle’s door and like offer him a drink. But I guess I will pass that. Its like wrong haha. I don’t think I will ever make friends in this hostel.

Haha I am writing all these while trying to do some studying simultaneously on the Lee book, Japanese, maybe a little bit on photography and of course all the info about sch. My god. I guess my highlight tmr could be to cycle to Disneyland. I guess that’s one of the only few perks of staying that far out of the city man. Hahhaa. To be honest I think its not that far out. Its just all the changing of trains, walking that’s killing me. My train ride to Tokyo station is actually on 20 mins.

As eager I am to get connected to the world via my phone and internet, I actually do think that these couple of nights did provide for very good solidarity. Of course its one of which I am definitely not used to, but one of which is to be described as awakening. And I can already see the benefits. I’d normally take decades to finish a book this thick, probably giving it up somewhere… but I’m already a third thru and really finding it tough to let it leave my hands. I’m like using it as motivation to do jap now. Not the other way rd. I’d tell myself to read another chapter of it, I’d have to do 1 chapter of jap first. Hahahhaa.

Now I’m thinking of the times before you left for France. That final time when we went to book Pan Pacific for National day preview and so on. I thought that time to be amazing. Seriously. I thought of nothing of the $ spent. It was well worth it. Ba long long come back from preview to shower and stuff. Its one of those extravagance that cannot enjoy too much. If not no feeling.

12 September

Today’s studying day for me. Had half wanted to make a field trip by cycling to Disneyland just to see how it all looked like from the outside. But well, it rained in the morning and the roads were wet, so I wasn’t tt motivated to go. Ended up deciding that today would be studying day for me. Haha. Read up on my Japanese, the Lee book etc. should be pretty fun.

Come to think of it, its hard to imagine life if I didn’t get that adaptor on the first night man. I’d be without my laptop, cant watch vids, cant be typing this now, can sync my ipod, wont have my ipod, cant charge my handphone, cant listen to music. I think that’d really have sent me into depression haha.

It’s a rainy night and you know how rainy nights make you emo at home, esp when I’ve been home the whole day… to top that up, it’s a rainy Saturday night. I looked out the window, realizing what a narrow piece of the view I was entitled to, reminded of how narrow a piece of the city I was entitled to, and would be working for. Why didn’t we consider moving away from the city, with the bane of inconvenience, we’d have so much to ourselves. Doesn’t ownership motivate anyone anymore? And this perception of value, its because there are more people there? Isn’t this some sort of a social valuation then?

Which reminds me, I should start uploading the pics took during my send off.

Reading so much of Singapore’s history and the region’s in such a single go, its really indescribable. Understanding neigbouring countries especially, I should’ve have known all these before even visiting them. Knowledge is really a beautiful thing in itself I must say. Why wasn’t I a geek? Haha.

13 September

OMG. I got a note that my internet will only come on 22 Sept. which means I will have to endure another 10 days without it!!! And on top of that there is the setup and stuff shit… so no guarantees that it will def work on that day man. Shit shit shit.

Today I went to cycle around Disneyland, just to see the places outside of it. Somehow someone told me they have fireworks like every night, but well, I heard some noise like fireworks but didn’t get to see it from my window. I guess its blocked by some buildings..

Observations for the day:

· the traffic lights in japan change so frequently that even when I cycle, I didn’t really need to stop and wait for that many times even tho I passed many junctions. I think it’s a wonderful system.

· I realized the premium we place on Japanese girls are really slightly overrated. I mean a lot of them really dress very well, especially with their legs. I guess its like even their uniform’s skirt is already so short, thus to them, the real sexy ones really bare it down to just nice cover the vitals. Haha. But well, for this alone I guess its true that many girls just make you so inquisitive about looking at their faces since their overalls is alr so fascinating.

Time really flies. Its already my 6^th day here. I didn’t even notice it. In another 300 days or so I’m gonna be outta here. I can even count the days I’m gonna be living. That’s how short everything is.