Damn commies

"We don't want any"

Today turned out to be a busy, busy day. I woke up at 7:30 thinking that I was going to be all motivated and study. Turns out I'm not so much of a go getting that early in the morning. So I pissed away my morning doing less important things (fancier way of saying I procrastinated) then I met up with my travel buddy Mikaela in Shinjuku to go get our Vietnam visas! It took us about 30 minutes to find the embassy (in reality it was only about a ten minute walk from the station but it was sorta tucked away behind this park). Once we came upon it though there was no mistaking it for what it was; big formidable building surrounded by a high wall with spikes along the top as well as a huge green door that was shut. Oh and the giant Vietnamese emblem was a dead give away as well.

Let me in, i'm Canadian!

After deciding that we weren't going to ring the door bell we walked around the building in search of another entrance and, alas there was (turns out there was a sign pointing to it at the front of the building, but it was all written in Vietnamese so we didn't notice). But they didn't open until 2 and we got there at 1:45.
Waited, found out I needed passport photos; went back to station to find passport photo taking machine (they have them everywhere, very convenient; screw you over priced Rite Aid), walked back with passport photos; turned in  application, waited. Took about 45 minutes for them to do whatever it was they do and they ended up charging us 7,000 yen (about 70 dollars) for it!! Damn Commies!! I guess if we had applied directly to Vietnam (or something) ourselves without going through the embassy then it wouldn't have cost as much I guess (personally I think they were just ripping us off because we're American). Last time I ever apply to go to a communist country again. Pah! (probably not though).

There was this splendid little bakery on our way back to the station that I just had to stop at (partly because I was really hungry, partly because I love little bakeries). I think it was a Dutch style bakery? Either way it was Dericious! XD

Then we went to Kinokuniya to purchase a giant guidebook that covers all of southeast Asia (easier to carry one book instead of three). It doesn't contain as much info as three separate books solely focusing on each country respectively. But the Lonely Planet books are good and it gives a lot of good basic info on how to survive and top places to hit. We'll just do our own research for the 'off the beaten path' tourism XD.

I got invited by my friend (Lake Shore Driving) to watch him and a bunch of other artist preform at this little live venue in Shibuya last night as well. It was a blast and i met so many cool people. It's times like these that make me really glad I came here.

This venue was tucked away into this corner not far from the Shibuya station, but tucked so well that it took me and my friend Miho about an hour trying to find it (didn't help that everyone we asked was like, "never heard of it"). It's a nice place, not too small, spacious stage and good sized dance floor. Nice, encompassing sound (didn't just blast you straight from the stage but had nice acoustics that made the sound go everywhere) that didn't leave me deaf by the end of the night makes for a happy customer. They had an assortment of artists, from DJ's (like my friend) to really-time-to-call-it-quits-buddy-but-at-least-you're-having-a-good-time-anyway, 80's metal solo guitarist. Most of the musicians were foreigners, ranging from British to Canadian. And their bar sold ice cream!! XD In fact, the photographer for the show was like " if you want me to take your picture, buy me ice cream".

Danced, drank, talked, and partied my pants off until first train at 5:30. Then since I wasn't about to let my exhausted body rule my life (what do you mean we need sleep?! Sleep is for the dead!!!), I went home, showered, went to class and managed to pass my test with 100%!! Then I even went to lunch with friends and didn't even pass out on the warm train ride home (it was such a nice day out and the train was so warm and comforting that it was tempting, but I persevered!). Staying up for 31 hours, after a while is like walking in a dream. I never could remember getting to my destination until I was there. Inception!!

Three hour nap, dinner, then back to studying...or possibly sleeping but I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

Some of the highlights of the night:

Definitely entertaining, hip-hop pair half in English half in Japanese (the guy on the right is from America).
Forgot what they called themselves though... 

See what I mean by "time to give up"? But he was entertaining, especially when he played ghost busters. 

Mah buddy and Lake Shore Driving DJ, Micheal 

He takes his work very intensely 

Everyone had fun times! (The girl in black had a little too much fun and ended up having to be pretty much carried home by the white dude. Oh boy was she friendly though...Very friendly...with everyone.

Another one of the DJs, Intoccabile Fyutchaflex

Mah lovely friend Miho!

Me and my new buddy Kimiyo!

He was the lucky white guy in the crowd that night (unfortunately though they both found out he's married and as two kids...after they got done making out with him. Men.)

Micheal also picked up a nice piece ass (they're married. lol )

They appreciate the Heine. 

Work stuffs

I started tutoring a friend of a friend in English a couple weeks ago and it's been going great! We set it up to where we go out to eat and then she just pays the bill, which is fine. I'm more into the experience anyway. After our first lesson I decided to utilize the senseisagasu.com site (find a teacher.com) where speakers of any language can make a profile for free and students can search for teachers based on certain criteria. After a couple days I got contacted by two prospective students, one male and one female. I was advised to stay away from the male students because they tend to be just pervs who aren't really into learning English. So I emailed back the other student and set up a time and place. Unfortunately (perhaps that's not the right word but i'll go with it) the night before I pulled an all-nighter with my Chiba girls and some other friends at the clubs in Roppongi (really now? Roppngi again?? don't you know that place is dirty?). AND I had forgot that I had made plans to meet up with some other friends in Yokohama to go to the Oktoberfest the next day. So by the time I arrived at the cafe were I was I tutoring, I was pretty much a walking zombie working off of two hours of sleep. But that's not the best part of the story. When my student arrived I was utterly surprised to find out that it was in fact not a girl (or lady if you prefer) but an older man who just happens to have the feminine sounding name of Masaki (although after saying it out loud a couple times I can see that it is a male name). But I was lucky; this guy was interested in improving his English (he could speak pretty fluently as it was) so the lesson went smoothly. But alas! He said that he does not have enough time after all to continue lessons so, phooy. But my other student introduced me to one of her friends and we're having a lesson tomorrow! So not bad at all.

I also got an email from my program coordinator about a part time job on Waseda campus which includes sitting in on this business class while they watch episodes of "The Apprentice" and answering any questions that the students might have regarding American business, based off the Apprentice (isn't that the show with Trump?). It's only for three days and i'll get 9,000 yen by the end of it if I get the job so, fingers crossed!  

Lastly I got asked to be a guest guitarist in this band (don't have a name yet I guess) and we're playing at Waseda's school festival on November 7th (Sunday). I'll be playing guitar for one song and then vocals for another so if you're in the area you should totally hit me up for time and place (both of which, like the name, have not been decided yet).

MY GIRLS!! Out for a night of dancing! WHOO

(L-R) Yuriko, my first student, and James.
Yes, I got out drinking with my students.

me and Natsuyooooooooo

BEER FEST! I mean, October fest...