Hotel Bel Air Sendai

... soon, for my schools and all) since I didn't even know I would be having this big-time meeting, but I didn't have a choice. So I stood up there with the other ALT, went through a basic self-introduction (pretty standard and official Japanese protocol), trying to throw in a creative thing or two in there while simultaneously trying not to have a heart attack.

In the end it all was fine, as the Japanese people do seem to honestly appreciate effort at the ...

... my Tora cosplay and met up with Monica, to whom I was selling my extra ticket. Monica is a Taiwanese-Canadian working in Tokyo. We ran into the French girls from earlier who introduced themselves as Amelie and Rola (sp?). It was nice to be able to pass the time talking to fellow gaijin, especially ones who are very open and friendly.

Eventually I’ll get around to writing a full live report, but damn, was Alice Nine amazing. They opened ...

... On my way back, I came across a singer/keyboardist named You-ki Kitamura performing on Ichibancho. She was really good, and I figured that my mother would like her music so I bought her CD. The people around me were all businessmen. ^^;; When I told her my name, one of the businessmen said, "Oh a foreigner." She seemed a bit surprised.

Glossary
takyubin - delivery service
omiyage - gifts

... Gakuen Basara, which places the historical figures of Sengoku Basara in high school. When I saw Date Masamune (iconic figure of Miyagi-ken and its ALTs’ obsession) holding an English textbook, I knew I HAD to buy it. Mika and I kind of intimidated the artist since we were talking about the obvious boys love scenes on the covers and how it’s a little abunai to buy stuff like that since we’re teachers ...

... p). It made for some entertaining shots. Because I’ve interacted with other cosplayers and gotten my picture taken more (benefits of group cosplay), I have been receiving more cosplay meishi. I ought to make my own for the next event. It seems futile since I’ll be leaving, but I don’t want to leave behind the Sendai cosplay scene for good.

This time around, I noticed more male cosplayers, and they were even ...

... people. It was nice to not have people shy away for once.

Glossary
takoyaki - balls of breaded octopus
nomihodai - all-you-can-drink restaurant
shamisen - Japanese stringed instrument that looks like a guitar or banjo

P.S. Happy Independence Day! (You know you've been in a foreign country too long when you don't realize that July 4 = Independence Day until the afternoon.)

I have been super stressed lately. Packing up is a nightmare, and I have zero time. I'm ****** at people for not telling me earlier that I would have to give up all of a Saturday.

Yesterday, a group of us girls (ALTs and friends) went yukata shopping. We all decided that we were going to wear yukata for the farewell party and the Sanuma Natsu Matsuri. I was going to get a set with a black yukata that had a flower ...

... back to make good memories, and I'm glad to see that he's alright.

During Hiroto's intro in "Dead School Screaming", he played "Bulls on Parade" by Rage Against the Machine. I didn't expect it, but when I finally figured it out, I was ready to squeal. In his MC, Hiroto teased Tora about the gesture, and then he teased Shou for wanting to be as cool as Date Masamune. My love for Hiroto has gone up exponentially because he moves ...

... some kids looking at my artwork. Henna and Scotland workshops. New wallet that is durable yet not painful to put in my pocket. Sunday Bad - Annoying election campaigns over the loudspeaker at 8 AM (I hate politics -_-#). Missing the bus to Sendai and thus missing out on cosplay. Getting lost because I didn't pay attention to where I was going. Art Show over. T_T So-so - Spent 1.5 hours at the train station in Toyosato ...

Beck: Well it`s a crazy Tuesday night here in Sendai, 2hrs north of Tokyo by shikansen (bullet train). Bill and I are staying in a traditional Japanese youth hostel. No, not kidding, it`s a YHA equivalent, but instead of the usual hostel thing of western backbackers in western accommodation, there are (apart from us) only young Japanese men staying here and the style of the hotel is totally Japanese. Meaning we sleep on the floor, sit on the floor, wear ...