Yup. And it's just like it is in the States. Except for the lack of Lingonberry Juice at the soda fountains. I do love a good Lingonberry/Sprite mix with my cheap-o hotdog set. And they didn't have cinnamon rolls today. But the ice cream was delicious. And it's only 1 stop away on the rapid train, so it's much closer than the one in Brooklyn. Especially if I were to try to go to Brooklyn from Shin-Urayasu! Speaking of... I don't think I ever posted this hilarity when I tried to get directions to the MAC store in Shibuya. (Please note, I was not asked to enter a starting address, not that I have any idea why it chose somewhere in Alabama).
My favorite part? #39. "Kayak across the Pacific Ocean. 3,879 mi. Entering Japan". And this is further evidence that I went to IKEA in Chiba, because it would take more than 36 days to go visit the one in Brooklyn... not including the water taxi transfer!
And look. I got a new friend to cheer me up!
The ironic thing is... I don't particularly like bulldogs. I don't think they're that cute. But this little guy just stole my heart over all the other IKEA stuffed animals (that are unfortunately probably sewn by machines staffed by third world child labor). He kinda has a funny body like a gopher or a chipmunk, and I can just see him saying, a la the Cowardly Lion, "Put 'em up... Put 'em up!"
So I went to buy sheets, but that mission was not very successful because sheets in Japan are surprisingly expensive and difficult to buy! And if I'm gonna pay 25 or 30 bucks for a fitted sheet, it ain't gonna be a crappy one from IKEA. So I left empty handed except for a comforter cover, some hangers and candles, a few snacks from the Swedish market, and a squishy pillow. Cuz you can't find one of those in Japan EVER! They're always so firm and brick-like. Yuck.
Last night on the train home... we had THIS bizarre experience. Watch and see:
Seriously. The cleanest subway system EVER, and there's a fully-formed spider web on it (sorry you can't see that better). A CROWDED train. That was probably in use all day. I was shell-shocked. The only plausible explanation I could think of was that, in all likelihood, the last person cleaning the train doesn't quite have the same eye-level that I do. But still. I wish you could see the indifference from the 85 other people in the car. Bizarre.
Rehearsal went much better last night, and even though I still feel rather subpar to the rest of the boys singing "All of Me", I got some good notes from Ai-san, and Daniel (the guy that cast me out of LA who was visiting this week) gave me some clarifications and helpful insight as well. Luckily the next two nights I just get to sit and watch the other teams rehearse, and hopefully we'll be done in time tonight to make the Mermaid Sayonara. And as my lovely friend Jonathan helped me point out, how bizarre is it that my vocabulary now consists of things like "dozo before the Mermaid Sayonara". Wow.
In finitum, I was very sad to hear of Ted Kennedy's passing last night. I've always held this aura of mystique toward the Kennedy family, but in watching CNN and reading up on his history online, I found myself in awe of what a great political man he was. And as someone well aware of the battles we are still fighting for equal rights in this country, I commend that man for his tireless battles to end discrimination. What an honor to have people on both sides of the spectrum mourn your absence and congratulate your lifetime of achievement. Bravo, Senator.
