Fall brings one of my favorite Tokyo events: Vegefood Festa! A celebration of vegan food (no meat, fish, dairy, or egg), it’s the one time of year where I can order any food, buy any piece of clothing, or buy any beauty product and know it has no animal ingredients. Almost all the food is healthy, and all of it is definitely delicious, so no one has to feel bad about eating too much. If you missed it this year be sure to go next year! http://www.tokyo-vegefest.com/english.html

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Laziness

I’m sure if  I counted the number of people who took the stairs and the number of people who took the elevator or escalator more people would take the stairs but it’s still surprising to see the pure laziness of people. I’m not talking about the elderly or injured but apparently able bodies young adults who just kick back and enjoy the ride.

Move, get out the way!

People generally stand around or near the door even if there is space in the middle of the train. Many people also hesitate to move to allow others to pass freely, and then some highly clever ones, just stand there. Who cares if you’re trying to get out.

What’s the rush?

Rushing to get a seat! Rushing to change trains to be the first one in line! Rushing to get on the escalator…to just stand there!

Do I smell?

Many people move away from you if there is an open seat next to them. People will go to great lengths to get a “good” seat.

Toilets

Toilet flushing sound so I can’t hear you pee! Do people really care about that? Oh yes. The Japanese do!

The Japanese Shuffle

It’s when people run around pretending to work when they’re not really doing anything. Go to any government office to witness the Japanese shuffle or your local convenience store.

Japanese English

Why don’t the Japanese just stick to speaking Japanese instead of butchering the English language in an attempt to sound cool? I’m convinced that Japanese will eventually become English with a Japanese pronunciation.

I can hear you!

Something I don’t understand is people talking about me right in front of my face. No matter how you rationalize such behavior, it is rude. I have more respect for others than to assume that they don’t understand my language.

a deodorant

i am no big fan of disney, 一生行かなくてもいい、あんな type.

けれど、to have some type of graphics on a “deodorant”, that is a new idea.

only in japan. geez, the deodorant package in US is sooooo boring …

however, they are super cheap … i think i prefer that.

relax bear toy.

the cover.

the inside content without fully open.

the one on the left is the little bag for the fan.

the one on the right is the fan before being opened.

main content – the opened fan, but it is all wrinkly.

as you can see, these are all not made in japan, not super official.

quality not as great. and that is also the reason why you can buy it soooo cheap in the supermarket.

i dont think i am going to get them again.

a very cheap 財布.

my old one is torn up, and cannot hold “changes” safely anymore.

very troublesome.

i had been looking ALL around everywhere, hoping i can get a cheap pretty one. but it was hard. always not really what i want, and the price is just completely ridiculous.

and there you go, where i live, the station, the 2nd floor of the Tokyu Supermarket, it looks so crap from outside and it actually had something THIS sweet, for sale.

not the appearance that i super fall for, it is the … price.

1000 yen, and the inside is SOOO functional! very very nice inner function design. really useful.

i have not 1 single complain for this 財布。

a close up of the cheesy logo. haha.

the inside, wow, all you need for a 功能的財布.

really, cannot ask for more.

ださくない！

i had this with my lovely roommate in a Family Restaurant.

a very cheap one, not expensive and it taste good. ^^

with a person that i am very comfortable with.

a closeup.

and it really taste great!

since i came to japan, i started to eat some greasy food.

don’t know why. the greasy food in an Asian country sounds less greasy for some reason. haha.

this is ALSO GOOD!

it is BIGGER than i thought.

it was delicious.

when i had no job, i feel bad to even go to this cheap restaurant.

but now, you can say i have a job, even though my relations with the boss is going super sour.

i finally, for the 1st time, think this restaurant is … cheap.

after i have been paying 10,000 visits to the expensive stores around here.

haha.

a closeup.

it was all good.

i love my roommate. eating with her is peaceful and full of innocent feel.

this is one of the saying good-bye to the person that kindly gave me this, but ends up never return my mail.

how sad. he probably misunderstood something.

or, just God made him have this feeling because his existence might not be necessary in the long run … ?

interesting how this world works.

88 Godiva.

this is the type of shirt that is “love at the first sight”.

it really is. the sale took this to me, i tried this.

and it did not even take me 3 seconds and i already know i will get this.

that is very fast for a hesitating person like me.

what it really means is, this type is my 好み。

but it is the type of shirt that cannot get you boys. haha.

long long long time ago, while it was still summer, i was invited to go around 横浜、and i found this little place, it was SOOOOOO cute.

i wish i can go there with the person i like.

a couple months ago, my miracle (ipod that last for 10 years), 1st generation ipod, exploded and melt, in front of my eyes. i was SO shocked, as anyone would, actually there was a recall in the US for this product, since the battery was unstable …

and after a LONG process of talking on phone, registering on the US site, going through the japanese long long phone conversion full of unnecessary 敬語、… that day, the 宅急便 came, and took my ipod away …

and soon, i mew ipod, orange one, came, ipod nano touch …

it was very awesome!

apple rocks, right?

and they also give me a coupon to get THIS (above).

because the new ipod not work with the old computer i have …

nice …

i have been wanting this forever …

Fall is my favorite season in Tokyo. Spring is great, but fall is when you’re rewarded with cool weather for surviving the summer, and when you get to enjoy all the nice things about winter – the warm fluffy blankets, the sweaters, the hot drinks – without it actually being miserable. Yet. It’s also a time when Tokyo’s surprisingly large number of trees turn beautiful colors. Momiji, autumn leaves, can be as big a deal as sakura, the famous springtime cherry blossoms. There are even websites dedicated to tracking down the most beautiful changing leaves. While the weather is still nice, why don’t go you check some out? If you’re not fluent, Surviving in Japan has a great guide on how to navigate these leaf-finding websites. Enjoy! http://www.survivingnjapan.com/2012/10/where-to-see-and-enjoy-japans-fall.html

I’m moving.

However, I haven’t quite yet found a new apartment but I told Oakhouse I was moving out and within 12 hours my room was rented!

This is called, “I shot myself in the foot!” I didn’t secure my new apartment before moving out of my old one, but the good news is one of the rooms in my house is empty so I am scheduled to move into that room in case my new apartment plans don’t go through.

Just a word about moving in Japan, it sucks! I’ve talked to several real estate agents by email and in person, and even though they say there are not discriminating against foreigners, 100% I feel sorry for Chinese people, because owners are extremely reluctant to rent to them. Even as an American, with a job, a good credit history and other achievements, I was treated like a flight risk! Like I was going to quit my job, trash my room and leave the country!

I’m not that person. I’m a good person. I do yoga. I honor my promises. I speak the truth. I treat the others the way I’d like to be treated. It’s strange. I’ve never really felt the discrimination in Japan until now, and to be honest, I don’t like it one bit. It makes me not even want to stay here knowing that some people harbor such feelings purely based on one’s nationality.

It’s been over a year since I moved into my shared house.

When I first arrived, half my roommates were Columbian and everyone spoke English.
Now, half my roommates are Japanese and only one person speaks English (fluently).

While language is not a barrier to living here, personalities are and I’d rather come home to a quiet house where I can watch a movie without hearing someone slurping ramen in the background. Sounds harsh but that’s where I’m at. I live with normal, law abiding, hard working people and I’m happy no one plays the guitar at 2am, but its time to go.

Blame it on the typhoon.
Blame it on the changing seasons.
Blame it on the roommate who keeps garbage in his room.

We have spiders and geckos and roaches in our house.

Would you like to come home with this waiting for you?

Yesterday, I found a gecko in my room. Fortunately, the cleaning lady was home to help. I think it is still in my room somewhere but it ran away…

Yesterday, I heard that there are roaches on the second floor! Yikes!

Uh, management, can we get some love over here??
We deserve to live in a clean, modern home free from insects.