“I'm so glad I've found this, I'm so glad I did”
-Munich, Editors

So I’m almost a week into my new Japanese experience, and everyday, I’m finding another reason why I like Japan.

Last night was my first attempt at bowling in a long time. I couldn’t get over how popular bowling is here- there are at least 2 major bowling alleys that I’m aware of in Fukushima, and on a Tuesday night at 9:30pm, it’s packed. And it’s not league night where everyone shows up in matching shirts. It’s filled with everyone from kids to business me who am still in their suits (one of whom bowled with our group last night). A group of about 15 or so English teachers and Japanese friends divided into 4 teams for a night of bowling. Although I am apparently lacking in the mad bowling skillz department, I evenly delivered both strikes and gutter balls. There were many opportunities for high-fiving all around. A good way to spend about 2.5 hours and $10.

A also discovered that the bowling alley has what I believe to be my favourite arcade game, (although I have never actually played it, it just look amusing)- You have two drum sticks and have to beat the drum in time with the screen as it yells things at you in Japanese and magical creatures dance about on the screen. I’ve already made Eve swear that she will play it so we can make asses of ourselves before I leave Japan.

Another awesome discovery about Japan is that (obviously) sushi is very cheap. Of course a jar of Skippy peanut butter will cost you $5, rows ad rows of rolled sushi is $3. And I cannot describe the deliciousness. Of course, I also discovered another wonderful thing – pre-sliced Kraft cheese. Those Japanese are so efficient!

“You'll speak when you're spoken to”

More good news abounds since I have a job interview scheduled for next week. Not bad after having been here 7 days. It’s for a company that wants part-time English teachers to attend student parties that they hold on weekends and national holidays for the home and private schooled students. So for $30 an hour, plus travel time, I’m game to chat it up with some 3-15 year olds at parties on weekends for a few hours.

I’m thinking of heading over to Sendai for some shopping today. It’s about an hour away by train and a $15 round trip. Apparently it’s where the best shopping is. I went there with Eve’s mom on the weekend, but feel like there is more shopping to be done other than HMV. But for now, I’m lazy and I’m waiting for the iPod to charge, so we’ll see. There is a store called “Happy Days.” And you guessed it, there is a picture of The Fonz on the sign. So if anything, I clearly need to return to take a picture of the sign.

“It breaks if you don't force it, It breaks if you don't try”

There is an elementary school a few blocks away that has a marching and. They’re outside practicing daily, and I guess today is the big student parade through the streets. But that’s nothing compared to the random “concert” I saw downtown on Saturday: A Japanese band performing ABBA and other ‘70’s gems.

So this weekend brings Eve and New Australian friend Donna for a night partying in the Roppongi section of Tokyo and some massive shopping in Harajuku. We’ve decided to go hard-core and arrive in Tokyo in the afternoon for shopping, and then spend all night partying, just to get on a bus to come back to Fukushima at 9:20am. We’ll see how utterly exhausted we all are and if I managed not to fall down some stairs and/or offend large quantities of Japanese people.

“With one hand you calm me, With one hand I'm still”