And this is how my birthday party ended.

It definetly did not end on a bad note, but it did end up with finding my umbrella completly torn apart at the front of the kareoke bar where we ended the night at 5am. I dont really recall taking this photograph, nor do I really remember the taxi ride to my friend Jacqueline's apartment. Nonetheless, it was a great party, and I am still paying for the consequences. Waking up this morning for work was not exactly easy, but once at school and after drinking these wonderful little cans of coffee, I felt alright to start my day. Japan is overran by vending machines. Most of them sell this great coffee, either hot or chilled, for about 120yen. I am slowly discovering that I cannot start my day without one or sometimes even two. They are delicious and quite potent; they really work! Canada should really look into those.

Anyway, how about I tell you more about my birthday party on last saturday. We met at an Indian restaurant for dinner that is owned by a friend. He makes delicious curry and serves the biggest pieces of naan I have ever seen. Its a little pricy, but the service is in English and it is always nice to have a break from all of the Japanese. There we met another English teacher that is also a DJ from New Orleans that told us about this House Techno event at this nearby club called As Soon As. So we all went to check it out and see how the clubbing scene in Fukushima was like. It was a very small place and the music did not exactly suit my taste, but we still ended up having an amazing time. Since it was my birthday party many of my friends offered me drinks and wanted to introduce me to new ones, such as Red Rooster (very famous in Hawaii appearantly that happens in 3 shots: tequilla shot, tomato shot and Ginger Ale). Here is a picture of when 2 of my friends tried it out... It is not a great picture because it was dark and I couldnt really see straight, but it will give you an idea. Compai!




Japanese people are known for being very reserved people who avoid at all cost public displays of affection, but that night at the club things were a little different. I mean, unlike clubs in canada, you did not see anyone making out, but people were more touchy and friendlier (not that japanese people arent friendly), but they seemed to be more open that night. I had many strangers come hug me, and wish me a happy birthday and ask me what I was doing in Japan. Many of them had a decent english. I always feel so flattered when they try really hard to converse with me. I also noticed that in Japanese clubs, people are allowed to pass out anywhere and do not get kicked out. So many people were laying across chairs and on the floor to sleep. One guy was sleeping on this one chair all the time I was there (3 hours). Also, I am not sure if that only happens in this club, but I did not have one single sleaze bag hit on me. It was great! I guess people dont exactly hook up in bars here and if they do, people arent as nasty.

Here are 2 other pictures I took that night of me and some friends before we hit the Kareoke bars at 4am. I cant believe how many times I have been Kareoke singing since I have been here. I am really getting the hang of it and it can be really fun. My favourite songs to sing thus far are Mr Roboto by the Styx (which I love to dedicate to all of my Japanese friends, but that is totally unknown to them) and Heart of Glass by Blondie... 2 great Kareoke warm-ups.




Here you have Leslie and Ayako. Leslie is from a small town near Sarnia and of all of the people I have met so far she really reminds me of my friends back home. We enjoy the same dark and goofy sense of humour, and she is a tons of fun.











Myself and Ryota. Look at at those happy drunken smiles!







The birthday party was a success, my birthday week was a success. Thank you so much everybody for making it this fun. However, there is just one thing: I missed having all of you canadian friends here with me this week. If there was one birthday gift I really wanted it was to have you there party with me and meet all of these people and do all the things I have done. I really wish that some of you will come here one day and experience this crazy country with me.

Now I am giving myself a week to recover from all of this hardcore partying. I never thought I would party this hard here, but it has really been exhausting and when you work with kids and all of your energy is gone, teaching a kids' class can be the hardest thing to do. So this week, I am going to bed early, I am going to eat right and concentrate on my challenging job. Teaching kids is not as easy as I thought it would be, but it is what got me here and I am sticking to it.

Have a great day guys and I miss you all tremendously.
e.