Also, it was no problem to finish the process of getting my new Suica, which I succeeded at today!
Now even though I have updated about my first failure at Japan, the real reason for the title of tonight's entry is what has happened in the past hour or so. Campbell, my only real friend (who's probably sick of me to death.... wait. Can we just discuss that phrase for a second? Sick to death. Sicken to death? I get it, but in the context I just used it makes no sense. Or my English is regressing here in Japan (that is more likely the truth)... whatever, comment if you wish) called me an "E-Village Bum". I don't lie. He literally called me out in front of the brand new dancer who arrived this afternoon for not leaving Urayasu in the past 7 days. Which instantly planted that nasty little itch under my skin. I'm not mad at him, because to a certain extent he's right, and I know he didn't mean it as an insult, but it's still there...
Am I really that big of a bum? Am I that messed up for not heading in Tokyo proper yet?
In my defense, I would say that first... I've been here 7 days. Unlike Tony, who we went out of our way to welcome and visit his room and offer advice and help in his first HOUR here, besides Campbell, the nicest thing anyone has done for me is carry my bags. I'm not saying I'm expecting anything more, but I've hardly met anyone yet, and the only other person in my show is Campbell, who has a life here already blah blah blah. We've had a pretty busy schedule that required me to be fully off book on day 2 and we have fully staged the show, ran it for the big wigs, recorded emergency tracks, and will do dress rehearsal tomorrow. No small task in my mind. And on my one day off, it was the first time I had really talked to my mother or friends, I hadn't hardly even found anything beyond the grocery yet so I needed to feel more at home here in Urayasu. Meanwhile, I have been exhausted and on an early schedule that I'm really attempting to keep up. I've also attended the fireworks, asked and tried to go to the Hub on Sunday to no avail, fought with NWA till my eyes are gouged out, had to run back and forth to the station 85 times now with regards to my lost IDs, and find time to unpack and settle in. So, no, while I have not ventured far yet, or even after rehearsal (when I'm tired and the train closes at midnight AND we have early calls), I had originally hoped to climb Fuji this weekend (and so was saving up energy) and now that that is postponed, I intend to go out and explore and find plenty of new Japan in the next 4 days. It just took my first day off to prepare.
In other news... I visited the theatre yesterday and met a bunch of the people I'll be working with and got a feel for my surroundings. I think it's hysterical how far out we have to ride the bus (we basically loop the entire park) to get to work, but it just comes with the territory, I guess. I tried to get a couch or bike hookup, but again, no luck. Some day soon things'll work out...
Today we spent the day in the recording studio recording our emergency tracks, and also taking the time to get some vocal notes. It's been a long process of trying to understand and give our director the sound and confidence she wants. I mentioned previously that it's hard to own this stage and environment, but I'm also starting to understand that they don't like the light tenor sound I was mastering over at HSM and 42nd of late. They want a more full vibrato and bright, energetic Disney sound, so I finally found it a bit better (I hope) today. We had a Spanish interpreter to help us with our pronunciation, and once I FINALLY got through recording that monster I finally started to have some fun. The Cowboy number is so easy and natural and I hope I am pleasing Ai-san with my work. I know I felt too much pressure and nerves about being right for her early on, such that once I settled in and had more fun the results improved! Needless to say, I loved working in the studio and wish I could do it more often!
The strangest part of the day was the blackout that caused our train to stop working entirely! It was supposed to be up and running again at 5, but we decided we would stop at Monsoon for dinner (SO DELICIOUS) just to be safe. Turns out, the trains were still not working at 6:15 and Maihama was INSANE. Lines weaving around the block for buses and/or taxis, television crews everywhere getting footage of the madness, and Disney operating like nothing was up. We decided to either try a cab or the bus to get home, and beat the system by walking away from the station to the next stop for the bus (which is down by the cast entrance) and squeezed onto the bus. Now here is where you really can understand the difference in Tokyo culture. The train is COMPLETELY out of service for hours, and people are either patiently waiting at the steps, patiently waiting in line, or patiently CRAMMED on buses. The bus driver filled the bus to capacity when we got on, not fussing or making a scene about people in the very front. Everyone politely shuffled back to make as much room as possible, and when it came time to debark, even though we were in the middle of the bus, people moved out of the way to let us off. I just can't even describe how polite and calm and patient and orderly the Japanese were. UNREAL.
Now think about NY on a day like this. People b*tching everywhere, yelling, rude, no idea what the crud is happening, and making a huge fuss in general. In fact, I remember a day when the N wasn't running to Qboro plaza and I didn't know the bus to get home. I've been here a WEEK and know how to get home if the train isn't running. Weird. I fell in love with Japan a little bit more because of that.
So now I'm off to bed to catch up on SYTYCD and make some weekend plans before police station, dress rehearsal tomorrow and hopefully Tokyo tomorrow night!
