recap
I really wonder what will come of all I'm learning of myself emotionally on this trip. Does it mean anthing? Is it too little, too late? Is it just for the sake of dramatic irony?

I heard a song on my iPod today that almost made me cry. While I was walking. In the middle of freaking Takadanobaba station. It was that potent. I've never heard to before. Those of you who are pirates (Arr!) should download Rinse by Vanessa Carlton. All things considered, it's just another pop song... but I like the way it fits me.

To recount my day, I woke up after STRANGE dreams, talked on AIM for a while (which I should cease to do because it only isolates me further) and then ate breakfast. Breakfast in Japan is a strange thing. All the other meals I'm gung-ho about. In the same sense, nothing I've eaten for breakfast has DISAGREED with me per se (except certain onigiri fillings) but I like to feel that I'm eating breakfast, you know, for breakfast. Not Chicken A La King or Au Gratin noodle casserole like I had this morning. All things considered, it probably helps me jump start my day better to eat more than a small bowl of cereal alone... but it makes me feel like a fatty. And it doesn't help that my mommy was telling me that she talked to one of the experienced host parents while we were at the gov't office the week before and he said that all the kids they've hosted have porked up while in Japan. BAH! Bah, I say! NOT I!!! NEVARRRR!!! Besides, it's probably all the beer. I gotta watch that. Not only is it expensive but also unhealthy. Yet... such a good way to be social. Sigh.

I watched several episodes of anime today while relaxing in the morning. Did a small load of wash in the Future-Washer and then practiced my kanji for the test tomorrow. I promised myself I'd attempt the gym today but by midday I was feeling both hesitant and irritable. Nonetheless, I packed up and went to Baba to walk to Waseda and at least scope the place.

I stopped and ran some small errands, which included picking up a children's kanji book from the bookstore I discovered and buying some extra trinkets for me and postcards for the family. Have yet to use the post office.

Once I got to Waseda, I discovered that the gym was farther away than I thought and when I got THERE I found out that I had do all this weird stuff before I could use it. With only an hour between then and the International Club meeting, I decided to just register and come back on Friday to use it.

The international club meeting was interesting. There seems to be about an equal proportion of Japanese and gaijin of varying levels of language skills, which is what I'd hoped for. To facilitate conversation, we had a discussion about marraige views, which turned into a discussion about sexuality. Very interesting stuff. After the meeting, everyone went to Saizeria, an.... uh.... Italian (very loosely) restaurant. Also extremely cheap. I paid 300Y for spaghetti. Yay. ^^

I met Chris and a coworker of his outside of Shinjuku station after wandering around through MYLORD and around the block a few times. Saw some interesting shops I must check out later. Also saw some homeless guy rubbing ointment all over his "goods" right in front of the station. Totally letting it all show. Eew.

After the dudes arrived, I walked them over to Yakitori Alley, a spiffy little back-alley row of yakitori restaurants that looks like something right out of a movie. I need to take my camera back there and get some pictures because it's impossible to describe. An alley seriously 2 feet in width lined on either side with tiny, TINY restaurants, all open-air. Insane. Really insane.

We ended up in a 100Y conveyor belt sushi place for about 30 minutes and had a few plates of sushi with some hot sake before I left to catch my last bus. Again, a busy day with little time for introspection, although I'm beginning to like it that way because introspection is only leading me to feel depressed right now.

It hits me at odd times that I'm actually HERE, in JAPAN, and I'm in control of my own damn destiny. That, my friends, is the best feeling in the whole world. I've been looking around me in awe of this insane city and wondering what my part in it all will be. I truly, truly can go anywhere from here.