Out from my chaos to grace

Alright, I have my ticket and I'll be flying out to Ohio on the 14th of next month.

Tea time now.

I'm slowly, but surely, readjusting to life in this country. Jet-lag has been taking more of a toll on me than I thought. When I got to Japan, it wasn't a problem at all...but now it feels as though it's making up for that. Heh.

To aid in the transition, I've gotten a few nifty things over the past couple of days. First of all, I got a new phone. Yay! The cruddy little razr is no more and has been replaced by a purple samsung instinct s30. It's a touchscreen doohicky and has a whole bunch of other nifty features. I don't believe that I should be in possession of something that technologically advanced.

We also got a couple of new babies to add to the family (leopard geckoes, of course). Nica's "baby" happens to be an exceptionally large baby...one of the biggest that I've ever seen. Her name is Kiku (short for Kikuri-hime) and she is easily twice the size of Po (the former tank-fatty). As for me, I found the most adorable albino guy...with a nub-tail (I have a soft spot for the retarded ones, I know). I named him Nero. He enjoys sleeping vertically on the glass. Haha~

On to pics!

Kiku (she spans the width of my legs!):




Nero (so freaking adorable~):

...but I'm home. My flight arrived on time despite some rather icky conditions in Chicago. Due to said conditions, my friends had a difficult time in traffic. As the flight wasn't one of the best for me (I was feeling rather ill), we went straight home from there...after an iced coffee, of course.

The day I left was a rather sad one. I left at 5:30 in the morning and was seen off by a teary okaasan and Nikki. The cab driver was awesome, even though he was rather self-conscious because he couldn't speak English. I got to the airport and checked by luggage in: only one was overweight, incurring the 5000 yen charge (I was wholly expecting to have that on both). And while my carry-on bag was too big for the flight from Osaka to Tokyo (it had to be checked and picked up at Narita), it was just fine to be stored in the overhead bin on the flight to Chicago.

As for the last few weeks in Japan, they were eventful. They were spend finishing up classes, final exams, and packing everything I could into those remaining days. I'm not entirely happy that I had to leave...I left a lot of good friends behind and I'm already finding it rather weird not to have them around.

I've also experienced a bit of reverse culture shock, if that's what it could even be called. Aside from the initial "oh shit, we're driving on the the right side of the road!" thing, there have been a few other things including (but not limited to) the urge to take off my shoes before I enter my own apartment (not an entirely bad thing) and the urge to speak Japanese when encountering service people or strangers. Also, I'm finding it difficult to adjust to American food again. I just...don't know what to eat. I'll go grocery shopping today and see how that works out.

I miss vending machines. And my bike.

Oh, and if any of you were wondering...I actually lost weight while there. This is despite the everyday consumption of rice or other carbs and the parfait adventures. Jeez.

In any case, one last picture update:
Osaka at night from 五月山

( Here )

And with that, my time in Japan is finished...for now.

One more thing left on my list...and that's to come home. *sigh*

It's about 4 a.m...I leave Hirakata at 5:30 a.m. and head for Itami airport, then Narita, and then the 12 hour flight to Chicago. Yippie bloody skippie.

It's been a great semester, I'm really not looking forward to leaving it behind. But, it's all the more reason for me to return. It's not a probability---it's a definite.

I'll miss everyone here (and a handful of those who are returning home as well)...well, all of the cool people.

Peace out, muthafuckas. <3

From here on, I have something going on (almost) every day until I leave.
Highlights:

12/7(月): Japanese speech
12/8(火): Work on Sumi-e final
12/9(水): Buy 雪月花; work on Sumi-e final
12/10(木): Close bank account, work on Sumi-e final
12/11(金): Japanese Oral Exam; Amber's tattoo
12/12-12/13(土・日): Write paper; study
12/14(月): Reading/Writing Japanese final exam; paper due; back Sumi-e final
12/15(火): Spoken Japanese final exam; finish Sumi-e final
12/16(水): Japanese Popular Media/Culture final exam; Kuzuha shabu shabu din din
12/17(木): Get stuff completed to receive deposit refund; Amemura; LM.C concert
12/18(金): Sumi-e toban duty; sorting through stuff/packing
12/19(土): Kyoto; Karaoke party~
12/20(日): Packing; help get Rebecca to KIX
12/21(月): Check out of room; last dinner :(
12/22(火): Airport-->home

*sigh*

Gackt totally took an impromptu trip to Kyoto the other day.

He needs to tell me these things so that I can more efficiently stalk him. *nod*

I've realized that I really like the song itself, but it took a couple of tries. At first, I thought that it was simply a rehash of Lost Angels or Kagerou. I had to listen to the song apart from the video to actualy realize the beauty of the song. He incorporates some really subtle traditional sounds along with his own signature brand of rock-ballad. Attemping to appreciate the music through watching the PV is a bit difficult for me due to the fact that the video is just so...distracting. Don't get me wrong, it's a gorgeous video. But jeez, it's like he said "let's see how much symbolism and other pretty stuff we can cram into one space!" There is just so much going on in it (not to mention the guest artists!). I do like the feel and look of it, though. きれいやなあ～

Gackt is coming back to Osaka...

...2 days after I leave.

It'll cost about $600USD for me to change my ticket, prepare accommodations, and go to the event.

I hate everything.

It's hard to believe that this semester is almost over. There are only a few weeks left...we're even beginning some of our final exams in the coming week. I love it here...I really don't want to leave...

Anyhoo, the past few weeks have been eventful. I've gotten two new tattoos, went to a hookah bar, saw another Takarazuka performance, and went to Nara.

The tattoos were done at Chopstick Tattoo by Nattsu...and she is absolutely fantastic and talented. Even if I didn't adore this country so much, I'd come back just to get more work done by her. In fact, I plan on it. The first one that I got was comprised of lyrics from Gackt's song "In Flames" with stylized plum blossoms around it. The second is a cute leopard gecko in memory of Ringo (my gecko) who passed not too long ago. Nattsu designed both of them, and both were perfect. They turned out wonderfully!

Kansai Gaidai Matsuri and INFES also happened last weekend. It's a few days out of the year where the Japanese student clubs and circles set up booths for food and there are all sorts of events on campus. I had some good yakisoba. Nom nom.

This past Monday was Labor-Thanksgiving Day here, a National Holiday. The night before, a group of us from the house pitched in together and made a nice Thanksgiving feast complete with orange chicken, beef stew, potato salad, mashed potatoes, lots of deviled eggs, and apple cake. It was quite delicious. On the following day, we made it back out to Takarazuka to catch the Revue's rendition of Casablanca as done by the Cosmos Troupe. It was rather nifty, but I do think that I like the Flower Troupe better.

Today we ventured out to Nara. It was a wonderful time to go as the weather hasn't been too bad and the fall leaves are gorgeous. Our main point of interest was Toudaiji, the wooden temple that contains the Daibutsu (Great Buddha). Of course there were deer everywhere. Deer with no sense of personal space. Tough given that they were cute animals that would usually run away under any other circumstance, I was enthralled.

Yes, there are pictures.



( And more... )

Here is the tribute to my dear late Ringo-face that I got done tonight. Again, fresh off of the needle:



It's baby-Ringo...and he's about to lick his eyeball <3

Because I ran across this while looking through my recent pictures and I am an incredibly narcissistic individual:



Oh, and because it makes Boy facepalm :D

I had it done today at Chop Stick Tattoo (1st shop) in Osaka (Nishi-Shinsaibashi/Amemura).

The lyrics are from "In Flames" and the design is original work by Nattsu. I usually design my tattoos myself but since I admire her work so much, I felt that it would be awesome to have something signature of her. I simply showed her the lyrics that I wanted and told her that I want plum blossoms in her style...and that's what she designed. Check out her work on the site, she's absolutely amazing!

Here it is, fresh off of the needle!



I am more than happy with the outcome ^_^

I've made this post a few times in the past, but this is yet another point that it is applicable:

Sometimes I remember why Luna Sea got me into J-rock in the first place all those years ago. They freaking rule.



(See the one second from the far right? Yeah, I saw him in concert. <3333 INORAN)

Am I alone in finding it rather tasteless and tiring when the fandom goes on and on and on about the "magnum"?

A couple of cracks here and there will produce a giggle out of me, but this obsession with the man's nether-regions is a bit much. Settle down, hormonal fangirls. Yes, Gackt is human. Furthermore, he is a man and therefore has dangly-bits that, from the right angle, resemble the last turkey in the supermarket on Thanksgiving. It's not an aesthetically-designed thing, really.

Ganked from onikoneko

1: Type in "[your name] needs" in the Google search:
"Rhiannon needs to give me head." *blink*

2: Type in "[your name] looks like" in Google search:
"Rhiannon looks like she really wants to dig in to that chocolate!" This is probably true.

3: Type in "[your name] does" in Google search:
"Rhiannon does not originate in the World of Men." Well, why the hell not?

4: Type in "[your name] hates" in Google search:
"Rhiannon Hates Tom o'myspace." Boy and I will rage upon myspace!

5: Type in "[your name] goes" or "..has gone" in Google search:
"Rhiannon has gone almost an entire week without having an accident!" Alright!!...?

6: Type in "[your name] loves" in Google search:
"Rhiannon loves all styles of dancing but feels most comfortable with the sharp, fluid moves of Jazz..." I can dance?

7: Type in "[your name] eats" in Google search:
"Rhiannon eats rats testicles." NO I WON'T!

8: Type in "[your name] has" in Google search:
"Rhiannon has a fan in Paul McCartney." O rly?

9: Type in "[your name] died" in Google search:
"Rhiannon died six days after hitting her head on the pavement." Well, I did do that a lot as a child during temper tantrums.

10: Type in "[your name] won't" in Google Search:
"Rhiannon won't take a pacifier and isn't terribly interested in giving her fingers more than a cursory mouthing." Yes...I think?

11: Type in "[your name] can't" in Google Search:
"Rhiannon can't help you, as she's no longer there when you arrive." Aww...I'm sorry :(

12: Type in "[your name] wants" in Google search:
"All their leader Rhiannon wants to do is rule over the two colonies together in peace with justice and fairness." Yeah...peace, justice, and fairness. Exactly.

Gackt...revealed his real age today. He's dropping the whole "born in 1540" thing.

He will be 37 next year.

Not that I didn't know that, but the fact that he actually publicly announced it makes it so...weird.

The past week or two have been mostly devoted to midterm exams. Despite this stress, I still managed to have a bit of fun.

Halloween in Japan isn't nearly as nifty as it is in the States. There is no trick or treating---only a select few who may don costumes for the day. The campus became like a giant outdoor cosplay event, really (yes, there were a lot of kitties, maids, and kitty-maids). Of course, the dressing up was mainly done by the 留学生(foreign students). Therefore, those of us who were in costume couldn't take 5 steps out without being stopped by the Japanese students and being asked to have our picture taken. It was fun and flattering for a while, until I was hungry and it took me about a half an hour to get to the cafeteria when it only should have taken me 3 minutes.

Aside from that, I went to Arashiyama today in order to pay a visit to the Iwatayama Monkey Park. It is a rather steep hike up a mountain, but it was well worth it. At the top there is a small park with a wonderful view of Kyoto. The best part, though...monkeys. Macaque monkeys running all over the place. It was glorious!

I know that this isn't too detailed, but I'll let the pictures speak as their are a LOT of them.

VK kids on Halloween (Joseph, Shari, myself, and Dana). I have pink hair again!


( and some more... )

Oh eff you, timing. Seriously...eff you.

First, I'm a month too late to catch any of the Requiem et Reminiscence II tour.

Second, I received all of my Dears membership stuff a week too late to go to any of the Dears only shows (and a month too late to order any of the Dears limited 10th Anniversary goods).

Now, this:

Gackt On Stage: Starting in May, Gackt will take on the role of Nemuri Kyoshiro which was a popular TV series and set of films from novels by Renzaburo Shibata. The stories take place during Edo period (1603-1868) under the Tokugawa shogunate and center around the title character, a sleepy-eyed swordsman who is the son of a Japanese mother and a foreign father, who was conceived during a Black Mass.
More details to follow at press conference.

*grumble*

So, I'm totally bummed that I missed the National GSA conference this year.

That's right, I'm whining about the fact that I missed a science-geeky thing in PORTLAND, OREGON because I'm in JAPAN. I totally make sense.

>:P

ねぇ知ってる？金魚は、たまに「ギュッ」と鳴くんだって。