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Beauty

My last week! I can't believe how quickly the time has passed. My goal is one post a day until the end (technically I meant to start on Monday..but...stuff happens)

One of the things I've often wondered about after coming here is who decides what is considered beautiful. After a series of conversations with a couple of my Korean classmates and a half Japanese/American classmate, I found myself in awe...and a little sad. One of my Korean friends taught me the word "tuni" or plastic surgery. Apparently when she was younger (maybe 13,14) her mother told her she needed to get a tuni and she agreed. So she went to the hospital and underwent a surgery to make her eyes bigger. Now, I have to be honest...when I looked through her before and after pictures..I didn't see much of a difference. In fact, in some of her before pics her eyes looked bigger than they are now..but that whole situation just blows my mind. And it's really common in Korea. One of their biggest pop groups, Girls Generation, have a ton of before and after pictures floating around online. Almost every girl in that group looks drastically different from the way she did before surgery. And while my friend showed me the pictures she said "See? Korean girls have tuni so they can be pretty."

Then I had another conversation, this time with a guy. He told me about how he doesn't like his skin because it's too dark. He told me that Koreans only think pale skin is beautiful, so he is ugly because he has tan skin. So much so that his last girlfriend broke up with him because she thought his skin was too dark. He also said that many Koreans call him Mexican, which he doesn't like. So I asked him, "in Korea, am I pretty?" and he was like "I'm so sorry but no...your skin is too dark."

Since I've been here, I've often heard that Japanese people love blond hair and blue eyes. Many of the pop idols I see in billboards dye their hair blonde (or a color very close to it) and wear contacts. Most of the girls in my Japanese magazines are pretty pale as well. I think the most drastic thing I discovered was from talking with Shinya (Japanese/American), who told me about girls who cut the outside corners of their eyes with scissors so that they can be bigger.

Now, we all know America has its self image issues, but I was really surprised by what I learned. Most Koreans are born with small eyes, Japanese people too. Why wouldn't that be seen as beautiful? Many Koreans have darker (than pale) skin. Why is that ugly? Why was it OK in my friend's mother's mind for her to take her daughter for (dangerous) plastic surgery? For beauty?

Before I came here, the most common physical traits I thought of Japanese people were small eyes and small bodies. I even worried that I would feel very self conscience because I knew I would be taller and bigger than most people. Also, I'm black, and I wasn't sure if I would often catch people staring at me because of how different I look. Then I got here, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that aside from maybe three people (and I'm pretty sure something was mentally wrong with one of them) I haven't had a reason to feel uncomfortable in my own skin.

Whew!

The week before last was such a busy week that I took a week hiatus! Four exams (including a three hour midterm), Valentines Day drinks, Karaoke (twice!), cooking class, Odaiba, Ueno, and Kawaguchi! It was a good week! Last week, I took it easy, came straight home from school, and studied hard (I had three exams last week too!). Last weekend we (American students) had culture class. It was incredibly beneficial... definitely a lot to take in. But I'll have to share that info later as I am a week behind :-(

I guess I'll start with my realization the week before last: that going to bars isn't a bad thing. That probably sounds stupid but I really didn't think well of them. I thought that most people go to bars to get loud, drunk or laid. You know, pick up chicks, eat peanuts, drink their worries away (temporarily). That or to get wings! (that last one was me...Landmark anyone?). And I knew before coming out here that Japanese people drink a lot. But I was told that because work is so stressful, they get drunk at night to feel better. Or they go out with their bosses and get drunk together, because they can only be themselves when they're drunk...whaaaat? (Side note...as crazy as I may have made that sound, it's true. Many Japanese workers, especially the younger ones don't stop working until midnight. They spend the entire day trying to please their boss - who is most likely unpleasant - and they do go to bars after work to calm down. It's also true that Japanese bodies are less capable of handling alcohol than say, American bodies. I forget why. It was explained to me in elaborate scientific detail but y'all know how I am with science...right over my head. So they get red...and drunk very fast. But it is NOT true that most Japanese or people in general go to bars solely to get drunk, probably half and half - which is what I'm getting at). But I've found, thanks to my buddy Tracey, that a bar can actually be a quiet, relaxing place to enjoy a little conversation and a tasty beverage. There's this small, I would even say elegant bar in downtown Ikebukuro, where they play (Japanese) jazz and serve signature cocktails. I bought sweet...something. It was delicious! They even have a pianist who plays sometimes. And it's owned by this...older man who wears a suit with a little bow tie! He makes signature snacks too, and he'll do magic tricks for you! He taught us one, it was pretty good. So yeah, I enjoyed the ambiance and the drinks, but it's definitely not something I would make a habit of - totemo takai desu! It's really expensive! 

Tracey also introduced me to a bistro in downtown Ikebukuro. It's below street level and so charming! If you don't want to sit and eat in the restaurant they have a bakery by the entrance where you can grab some bread and leave. We bought bread - it was delicious! I promise not to go into another tangent about how good the bread is! But I will say (while hoping I didn't already) that another thing I love about Japan is how many small businesses there are out here. Tokyo is a big city, but it's filled with many shops. Even the chains aren't over baring, they fit right in to the neighborhood. There are small sukiyas, ramen shops, udon shops, curry shops (oh they love curry out here, and now I do too!), and so forth, along with small clothing boutiques, beauty shops, etc. It just makes every area - no matter how big and bright - feel homey :-)

That Friday, I was also introduced to gyouza (Chinese dumpling - basically meat, gyouza skin, ginger, seasoning, and leek). We made it in cooking class, and it is delicious! Also fun and easy to make. I'm thinking of doing a mini cooking session with my friends when I come back. I also made this tofu dish, Mado Dofu. Now I haven't had tofu in years, and I always think I'm not going to like it, but it was great, almost tasted like noodles, which was appropriate for the kind of sauce it was in. We were split up and then paired with Japanese students from Waseda University. It was cool. Sylvia and I tried to speak Japanese and they tried speaking enlgish, I think it went well. They gave us suggestions of cool places to visit and told me how to get my nails done for less (basically with coupons lol). I was really happy at the end of the night. Now when I go to the suupaa I have something else I can buy to eat!

My cooking team :-)

I learned Japanese table setting!

The whole class!

Happy Valentines Day!

Treats from my dorm manager!

Well, technically, Valentines Day is over for me, but I still wish everyone a good one all the same. I really like Valentines Day. Not sure of the origins but I think it's great to set aside a day to appreciate the people you love and celebrate love all around. Even for those without a special someone to enjoy that candle lit dinner with, it can still be a special day, and there's chocolate! Tokyo (as expected) goes all out for this day as well. It's celebrated a little differently out here though. Today is the day when a female gives chocolate to the guy she likes/loves. Then a month from today, guys give chocolates to their sweeties. So in a way, it's almost better because you celebrate twice! I don't have much to write today, just wanted to send a quick shout out to my loved ones (especially my sweetie!). I'm thinking about you, missing you, and loving you...from all the way over here in Tokyo :-)

Enjoy the day

Shinjuku and Shinookubo!

Guess I'm in a writing mood :-) Plus I should have posted this before Ginza and  I figure it's better to get this out of the way now before class today...

Last Thursday, my class went on a field trip to the Tochyo building in Shinjuku. Its a really famous building where metropolitan government officials work. On the top floor (45) there are (almost) floor to ceiling windows, so there is an incredible view of the city. I saw Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Sky Tree, a ton of buidlings, some grassy land...a lot! As much of the city as my eyes could reach. It was beautiful! Me and my Kankokujin (Korean) friends took pictures, we took a class picture and I photo bombed another class' picture! 

This is my class :-)

I bought some souveniors too, for my family and friends (not gonna say what they are though!). Afterwards, we all went to the Depaato (Department Store) to do this assignment we were given from our sensei. We had to speak to the sales people to find out what floor our wish list items were on (we had three), then ask somone else questions about it, like how much is it, where's it from, and bonus, original questions. My questions were "is this ----- the best?" and "is this a good -----?". We were given partners and I got the bubliest, friendliest, and loudest kankokujin in my class, Leia. She's really nice, and she makes me laugh without trying to but she has enough energy for eight people. Doing the assignment wasn't so bad. Only one of my salespeople pointed me in the direction of an english speaking associate and I kindly told him that I needed to practice japanese, to which he responded with more helpfulness. We were given a half hour to finish our checklists/worksheets. Afterwards, almost everyone in my class wanted to go drinking. Now, the last time I was invited to go drinking with my classmates, I said "next time". So on Thursday when Jususku -san asked me to go and I hestated, he was like "Tashina-san (gestures a mouth with hand) next time nomimasu (drink)...kyoo wa next time" What could I say to that!?! So I made sure the other girls were going (there are four of us total, I'm the only American female) and then we headed out to Korean Town (Shinookubo). They took us to this restaurant where they cook large peices of pork (like huge bacon strips) on these grills at your table with vegetables. They also bring you other small dishes, sauces, powders, and some kind of saucy dish that tasted kind of like baked ziti, but with rice cakes instead of noodles.

You can't really see the first powder on the sauce tray, it's green tea and it's sooo good!

 
 It was delicious! Oh yeah and the drinks..so they brought us korean sake, called sootyoo and korean beer. I dont like any beer, it tastes like seltzer water to me, but the sake I cold stomach. Well that is, I could stomach the first three shots. After that, it tasted worse and worse to me. I was okay though, I also had water and a ton of food to put down, so I was able to wash the taste away fairly quickly ( and avoid getting tipsy!). We took a lot of pictures and had a good time. Talking in japanese is somehow a little easier and more fun when I speak to them. I dont know why, maybe becuase its not random practice but we're actually trying to get to know each other, it's cool. After dinner, Jususko -san invited everyone back to his place, that was appearantly five minutes away. Most of us decided to go. However, after a 1 minute walk and a short ride in an elevator I discoverd that we were not going to his house, but to another restaruant - to have more dinner! Let me just pause to say how much I enjoyed the last restaraunt and ate my full of meat, veggies, rice cakes, etc. I was full...and they wanted to eat again!?! But I went with it. 

This one was a little different. It had small pots on the table, that they cooked more pork, potatoes, and a seasoned rice and cabbage dish in. That was also yummy. Of course they broke out the beer and sake again (!) but I couldn't take much more, by then it tasted nasty to me so I ordered a ginger ale - which turned out to be a good idea because none of them had tried Ginger Ale before so they all wanted some of mine, and they liked it! I had a good time. It was cool to learn a little about Korean culture and cuisine just by hanging out, and they were so eager to teach me and get my feedback -  "is the food good?" "do you like Korean sake?" "try this sauce" "eat more" "break that like this" "you have to put the whole thing in your mouth" lol. Before I knew it, we had spent like 5 hours together. Time flew! The ladies and I are supposed to go out together again on Saturday to go chocolate shopping for valentines day. Should be good :-)

Until next time,

Ginza!

Last night, Sylvia, Gabby and I went to Ginza! It's only five or so stops away from school and it is beautiful! So many lights and colors! Tall beautiful buildings with huge ads..reminds me a lot of times square. Which is another thing that I like about Tokyo. Times Square is a special place in NY...in America. It's bright and busy, full of life and great things to do. And there are so many areas like that out here. So far I've been to four: Shibuya, Shinjuku, Shinookubu, and now Ginza. So, Ginza is like Madison Avenue. There are a ton of very expensive, elegant, and trendy shops and cafes. A lot of brand names too, expensive brand names. Like Dior, Fendi, Tiffany's, Armani, etc. There was a lot to see, so we just walked around and took a ton of pictures. Eventually we stopped to rest at a cafe, called Le Cafe Doutor, where they served a bunch of cute treats. I can't remember the exact names, but Gabby got a chocolate mouse cake, Sylvia got a fruit tart, and I got a milk something cake. It was delicious! All of our treaats were good, but I think my treat was the best!

My Treat!

 They also got coffees (I drank water), with the signature cream leaf in them. After our break, we walked around some more, stopping at chocolate shops (Valentines Day is coming!) small restaurants (to see what the interior looked like) and what looked like a mall...or most likely a very large department store. There we went to Fendi...giggled at a pair of shoes costing 102,000 yen - about $1000, actually more, with the exchange rate - and then left. We also stopped at an Abercombie & Fitch, because the music was so loud, we thought it might be a club with the same name. It was not a club, but it was an experience. As we entered the greeters said "Hey, what's up?" in very good English accents. Then as soon as we hit the lobby, there was a shirtless guy waiting to take a picture with us! So another greeter (this one, female) took three pictures of us and gave us the copies. We were shocked. I cant remember the last time I was in an Abercombie & Fitch in America but I don't think they do all of that! 

We weren't interested in buying anything, so after a brief look around one of the floors (there were 10!) we left. There was a lot to take in, we walked around for about three hours. Apparently on sundays they block some of the streets off and put out tables and chairs, so that people can dine and drink coffee in the streets. That could be cool :-)

Having Fun

Hello! It's the end of week four and I'm still going strong! Class is becoming more of a challenge (and I'm actually happy about that!) and I've enjoyed a few more outings since last time! So, last week friday some of us went out to dinner in Tokyo. When you get off of the train you find yourself in an underground market place. Which was no good for any of us because we really like to shop! Especially since we're here, I've been trying to get out of the mind set that shopping is a game I play with fake money at special shops...when really I'm just buying bread at 7eleven... and that bread is costing me more in American dollars than it is in yen. But as I have said, the bread here is sooo good! Especially butterscotch bread. Plus, bread is always fresh, soft and moist. So good! 

Anyway we walked through the market place and eventually found ourselves in the basement of the Marunouchi building. This place is like a combination of a mall and an office buidling. We went up to the top floor (I think it was the top floor) and there was this awesome view of the city, with all the lights, it was so pretty! We took pictures (my camera couldnt do it justice, it kept catching my reflection) and then walked around to check out the restaraunts. They were waaay beyond our price range. I'm talkin, 8000 yen a plate! So we went down a level..or two...or five, I cant remember, but we found a traditional japanese style restaurant where they served okinomiyaki. This is a japanese pancake that they make according to your specifications. Tracey was with us (who speaks...I think fluent japanese) so she was able to explain the menus to us and what was in the food. So we orderd two okinomiyakis, one with sticky rice and cheese, and another with all seafood...every kind of seafood...including octopus tentacles and squid. Needless to say, I had no intention of eating that one lol. They also served beans, kori (seaweed) and seasoned rice. The okinomiyaki was good, it wasn't what I expected though. You say pancake and I'm thinking lots of dough, not the case. It had lettuce and eggs in it, along with the rice and the chese and there was a bar-be-que like sauce on top. It was good though. Against my better judgement, I had a small (and I mean small) bite of the seafood one...bleh. The rice and beans were good though! I also tried a pop soda. It comes in a bottle that has this little glass ball on top that you have to pop into the bottle in order to drink. It tasted like sprite to me, which is fine. Afterwards, we explored a few of the other places in the building, including a Subways that grew lettuce in this huge incubator and an American Pharmacy that was named American Pharmacy lol. 

True to its name, it had a bunch of American products like Snickers, glamour magazine, maybeline cosmetics, etc. It also had random things like tea kettles and ski masks. We didn't buy anything, but we were happy to know it was there. There was another store that sold swiss miss hot chocolate, which I was really happy to see because I'm starting to run out of the stash I brought with me from home :-)

On Sunday, us American students went to see Sumo at the Kokugikan Arena. It was very interesting. Somehow I thought I wouldn't have a problem looking at a bunch of half naked fat men because I knew before hand what I was getting myself into. Not the case! It was...a lot of meat bouncing and getting slapped around! Aside from that though, it was pretty cool. Sumo comes from Shinto ritual from back in the day, so the matches are very ceremonial. A sumo must squat, slap his thighs, squat again, etc to show that he has no weapons on him. Then they pick up this white powder and throw it into the ring, as a taunt to the other wrestler, then they squat and stuff again, they drink water, squat/etc, throw powder again and then the match starts. The match lasts about 10 seconds! So you spend about 7-10 minutes watching them do the pre match stuff, then you watch a 10 second match! Luckily for us, that day was the day that the grand champion retired. So it was a special day. One of the ways they commmorated the occasion was by having a hair cutting ceremony, during which all of his financial supporters cut his hair. they dont actually cut it though, they get on stage, take the scissors and pretend to cut it, then another guy (maybe the coach?) comes up at the end and cuts it. Apparently the good sumo wrestlers get a ton of supporters and they become so rich that they dont have to do anything for themselves. They dont even have to wipe their own behinds (Comming to America!)! And this guy was a grand champion! So you can imagine how many supporters he had. I thought I could... I was wrong! After an hour of watching man after man get on stage, I'm not gonna lie, I started to doze off! So a bunch of us walked around to visit the shops. This place reminded me a lot of the Wells Fargo center, one huge circle with a bunch of small over priced food and good items. Although I think the Wells Fargo center is way more overpriced than the arena, plus the shops were pretty cool. I bought some fries and ice cream, along with a souvenior for back home (not telling what it is though!). Then Max and Tracey went home, having had enough of the festivities, Jeanne went back to our setas, and Sylvia and I walked around some more. We were trying to find the special sumo soup, Chanko (for Sylvia) and the sumo museum. Unfortunately, it turned out that they weren't serving the soup that day afterall, but we did find the museum, with the help of a guide. It always feels scary and I think we tend to over think when we want to speak to someone in japanese, and then the right phrase comes randomly ("Sumo Museum wa doko desu ka" - where is the sumo museum?) usually after the fact! Its OK though...we can always say we're only students learning Japanese! At the museum, there were a lot of sumo ceremonial aprons (kesho-mawashi) on display. So you could see close up how intricate the weaving and designs are - beautiful! There were also random things like hand prints (sumos have some big hands, 'nuff said) pictures and bios. There was also a TV playing some of the greatest matches. We left the museum, and went back to watch the rest of the festivities. there was another ceremony, more matches with less experienced wrestlers, and then the grand champion matches left to see. We walked into..matches, we didn't know which they were though. Then two of the champions (one Mongolian, one American) had their match. The American won (yay! - I know, biased). After that, another sumo came out and did a bow dance. After that, people started leaving. We were so confused.. we were sure that there was supposed to be another set of matches, but it turns out that they were ahead of schedule and we missed the first set of matches while we were in the museum...so..we went home too! On the way out the door, everyone was allowed to take the fresh flowers they had on display for the sumos. I thought about my Drexel girlfriends, always looking out for free flowers on campus. Don't worry ladies, I took enough home for all of us :-)

Missing you guys,