Boys, boys, boys ... a boy

I've already managed to pimp my cellphone. I bought the chain with BIG BANG pictures at a Korean music shop in Shin-Okubo. Today when I and Sofia walked through Shin-Okubo we spotted a really hot-looking guy that gave us eye contact and very welcomly said "irasshaimase" but we decided to go there later. When we returned he smiled just like before and this time we went inside to look at the things and I decided to buy the BIG BANG-chain just because he was SO DAMN HOT, haha! So, when I got to the cashier desk he stared at us and I was too shy as usual so I just looked down. As he returned the change I dropped 100 yen and he really wanted to help so he kneeled down aswell but I was like "daijobu, daijobu!" and so we all just stood there as we were about to go he asked us where we're from. Sofia started talking and I was just so embarrassed and mesmerized at the same time and they talked a little but I was in total embarrassment-pain so I was like ".e...e.... matane!" and Sofia was like "YOU DISSED HIM, HE WANTED TO TALK OH MY GOD!". However, as soon as we got out we screamed in extreme fangirlishness and decided to go there again on Friday because she's going to buy some korean things to her friend who loves korean music. THAT TIME I WON'T BE SHY, ALRIGHT.

Besides, the guy looked like a ten times hotter version of Junhyung from BEAST. Talking of BEAST, they're coming to Tokyo tomorrow and having a fanmeeting. It's in Shinkiba Studio Coast, I'd love to go there but it costs 5000 yen.

Softbank を すき！！

I got a Japanese cellphone today and I just can't believe it. Sofia and I went to Shin-Okubo today and to their Donquijote and I was very skeptic since you can't get a cellphone if you're not over 20 or if someone signs for you and you need an alien registration card. But, as we got there a really helpful and handsome and cute and loveable Japanese guy helped us. He was so damn charming that me and Sofia decided to come back sometime and buy something else, haha.... he was just amazing, it's so darn hard to get a cellphone, especially a prepaid one.

I've been hanging out with my long lost friend Sofia lately. We were like enemies for 4 years until I met her in Yoyogi koen at Swedish Midsummer and afterwards we just raided all the streets in Tokyo, laughing like hell, smiling and just enjoying the Tokyo atmosphere. Today we went to Shibuya to walk around and everything and we went to HMV and I asked for the Summer Sonic tickets. They are available and I'm going to buy one soon I think, I must go thereeeee to see my dearies BIG BANG. Talking about BIG BANG, I died when they played Haru Haru in a random kpop-store in Shin-Okubo, lol I love Shin-Okubo!

However, school has started and the morning classes are great. Though I must admit that the Tokyo rush hour in the morning really makes one tired before one has even arrived to school. My class is really good I think, there are five Korean people, one Swedish girl beside me, a Italian girl, a Spanish guy, a French girl, an Asian guy (I don't know where he's from), a British girl that has Chinese heritage and most people in my class can't speak English so I'm so happy. Paradoxal, right? I really wished for people who don't speak English because I believe it will be easier for me to learn Japanese since I will be forced to communicate with them in Japanese. Right now we're just doing the basics and I haven't learned a lot of new things yet since we're basically rehearsing hiragana and some simple words. I do however enjoy my school a lot and I signed up for the nomihoudai/izakaya/karaoke-thingie that will be held on 16th of July, yatta!

Also, today I met another internet-pal of mine - Dai. We met pretty late and he took me to Shinjuku. This was the second time I went there and it was a lot better this time since I actually got some guidance, haha. We went to a big tower (not Tokyo tower) that had a free entrance and it was on the 45th floor and the view was just breathtaking. I took several pictures, please be patient! :) ... also, afterwards we went to an izakaya where everything costed 270円 and Dai was starving so he ended up ordering too much, he also bought a fruity alcohol drink to me, haha I was very thankful. We talked a lot about music, especially X Japan since he's a really big fan. I don't mind them, I really like some of their songs ... ok actually I kind of love 90% of their songs but I never thought of myself as a real fan. However, we decided that next time we meet we're going to watch the whole last concert and go to a horror restaurang. Haha, I love this place and I love most of the people.

Gosh, it's 12:49 AM and I have to wake up at 7 AM tomorrow... going to take a shower now and then curl my hair. I bought a curling iron at some real nice shop for only 980円!

Yoyogi koen x2

Today I met up with one of my internet interpal-friends Yuki whom I've stayed in touch with for over a year. I was 15 minutes late... Japanese people are so punctual so it must be really frustrating for them to wait for someone as me. However, I don't know how long time anything takes yet so I just guess and I end up being late. However, Yuki still waited for me even though I was 15 minutes late without letting him now. We met at Hachiko in Shibuya and then we went walking to Yoyogi koen and we just sat there and looked at people. The Sundays are always packed with people everywhere and we just wanted to find a place where we could sit and not die due to the humidity. Yoyogi koen was a good choice. Now, after that we decided to walk around further and we went to a big toy store with 5 stores. It was interesting I must say and I wanted to buy a lot of things! Later we decided to walk around in Omotesando and then we headed to Starbucks and I bought a lime cake and maccha frappucino. After all that I kinda felt full up and I also decided not to eat sweet stuff in Tokyo for a long time from now on. Two days ago I only ate three ice creams in a day and nothing else... so, no more sweets for a while. Yuki also took me to a sushi restaurant where the small plates are rolling around in a circle and you pick what you want to eat. I forced him to take purikura pictures with me and we did, but he felt so embarrassed hahaha! However, I got free lashes as well so it was pretty nice. I think I'll start using fake lashes soon, all Japanese girls do! After that I thought I'd die seriously, humidity and nausea! It's all fine now tho and at 09.30 we took the train home in different directions. It was a very nice day at least to say and we'll meet again this coming week.



Actually I washed my clothes for the first time in my life today and I felt so prooooud! Like a housewife, hahaha kidding. Anyhow, it's another memorable day!


Yesterday I celebrated Swedish "Midsommar" in Yoyogi koen with other Swedish students and some Korean and Japanese people. I had a blast and I got too wasted to keep my white converse clean. Many fun things happened and I bonded with people from my new school that I will start on tomorrow. On the way home a Japanese guy couldn't button his raincoat so I helped him even though I was totally drunk, hahaha it was a pretty funny moment. Also, Ralf fell inbetween the train and the train gate - it was pretty funny but horrible and he managed to get out alive. We walked from Ikebukuro because the Toei Mita Line is too darn expensive. Of course we went to Don Quijote on the way to buy ice cream... seriously, no more sweets.

Also, the Korean people that I met yesterday were so sweet and they screamed out of joy when I asked them if they liked Epik high and BIG BANG and they gave me two paperfigures of Seungri and TOP. HAHA, the cutest peepz evur!

Straight perm

Today is another memorable day -> the day I did my first straight perm. I did it at Watanabe hair salon and the woman who did it on me is called "Tommy" and she's probably the most professional hair dresser I've ever met. I'd definitely recommend her to anyone out there. The adress to the hair salon; 3-25-6 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo. You walk through takeshitadori and then you take the second Harajuku street! Aaaah, somehow now I'm really sure that my hair will survive the hell of humid July.

Other than that I went to school today for the introduction and I switched from afternoon classes to morning classes - basically I'll start at 9AM instead of 13.20 PM. I think it's better to be honest but maybe we'll see if it pays off. One thing that concerns me is that I'll have to take the tokyo metro and JR line during the rush hour. But it should be totally fine, right? ... oor.. Ah, whatever! As long as I'm in Tokyo everything is great! ;)

A funny thing today is that I only ate ice cream - three ice creams! I went to Don Quijote TWICE! First with Ralf to buy ice cream. Then the second time Milan wanted to go there too to buy yoghurt so I went there again and bought ice cream. WAHHH.

メロンソーダ & c.o

(picture not taken by me)

If there is something that I am definitely going to miss when I leave Japan within a year then it's メロンソーダ (melon soda). It's cheap and easy to buy anywhere and the best of all... it's REFRESHING in the humid Tokyo summer!

So, today has been a quite productive and long day. First of all I met Miki at the Itabashihonchoo station, that is the station closest to my home, because I pretty much didn't know anywhere else to go. After that we headed to Harajuku to find the barbershop that I've been dying to go to and permanently straighten my hair. Before going to it we walked through Takeshitadori which is like the "main" street of Harajuku when you come out from the station. It's packed with small shops that offer you cool clothes at very cheap prices (compared to other areas in Tokyo). Also, there's a big variety of clothes and while walking the street you will either spot very personally stylish people or foreign people (not that foreign people can't be stylish but ya know boo). Anyhow, this street is obviously one of my favorite places in Tokyo so far, it's like a dream, seriously. Anyhow, after that we found the barbershop that I booked an appointment at and I'm going there tomorrow after school to permanently straighten my hair finally. The woman that will fix my hair is called Tommy and she's been living in London a lot and she's a pro and she can speak English, so... I'm really lucky.

After all the walking in Harajuku we walked to Shibuya and actually we went to Shibuya 109! There are two Shibuya 109 shops and one of the has like 8 floors with amazing clothes. I bought a bag there for about 3000円 because I really need one now when school starts and when I'm in town. Isn't it pretty? ^-^Y


Now, at this time we were pretty exhausted so we went to 31 a.k.a Baskin robbins! DAMN have I longed for their ice cream? Gaaash and it was so heavenly and tasty. Like, actually they have like more than thirty different flavors and I tried Popping shower, some oreo-cookie thingie and a melon-thingie. Definitely going there again and it's really great now that it's summer because they have "take 2 get 1 for free", so you bascially get three different flavors! Heaven, oh heaven.


(picture not taken by me)

Wow, and after all this is not everything we did today! Haha. After the "mini-sightseeing" Miki asked me if I wanted to meet her friends that were going to an izakaya and I just felt as though I had nothing to do really so I went along. First they decided to go to a Mexican bar and so we went there and a great thing about Japan is that you pay like a certain amount of money and you can drink as much as you want - nomihodai. I tried several cocktails but didn't get drunk really while some of the guys did a drinking game with beer and ended up totally wasted, haha. We also did a drinking game that was like the JR Yamanote line. The JR Yamanote line goes in a circle kind of around the central Tokyo and this drinking game was all about clapping and then each person had to say a country and if another person said the same country then he/she had to drink. Somehow, Miki's poor friend Shu got to drink twice, haha. After the Mexican bar we went to a Japanese Izakaya and this was all in Takadanobaba. Apparently in Takadanababa most Waseda University-students meet up when they want to go out to have some fun. So, we went to the izakaya afterwards and it was nomihodai there as well. However, some people were too drunk so they got lost along the way and some went home. However, it was really fun at this izakaya and I got to try sake for the first time and I must say that I really think it was tasty!?

.....owa. My school starts at 13.10 tomorrow and the first thing is "orientation" and at 6PM I have to go to Tommy so she can fix my hair. Also, I have to wake up early tomorrow so I can wash my clothes. Aaaaaaaa!

さやえんどう!

This is apparently called さやえんどう and it is some kind of crispy green chips. Costed only 42円, of course I had to buy it! I love how all girls probably come to Japan to shop at Shibuya 109 (I'm gonna go there too, don't worry) and I just go to all kinds of supermarkets to compare the prices and buy Japanese snacks, hahaha. Gotta love myself.

Oh btw, the "glasses" that I'm wearing are my sunglasses that got broken because I sat on them and I fixed them with nailglue! Now I feel like Bob the builder... or maybe I feel like TOP?



Or maybe I just feel like a retard?

A stingy fellow

Ever since I came to Tokyo I've had troubles sleeping, probably because of the time differences. Since I have no real alarm clock I decided that I should get one before school starts so I ended up going to ドン キホーテ and buying this one which costed 500円 approximately. I got pretty headshotted when I went to the 100円 shop and found alarm clocks that were five times cheaper. Buhu, but I bet no one can full off a pink alarm clock with a bunny and a bear like I do... hmm.

So today I walked to Ikebukuro with Ralf and I bought the wrong cable for my camera. Damn, it was a pink cable and I was so happy until I got home and realized it's the wrong one. I need a micro USB for my camera. Anyway, we also went to ZARA's and another cool Japanese clothing shop and I wanted to buy pretty much all the adidas shoes I saw. Uhhh.

I'm so tired now due to all the walking but this day has been very productive and I've seen more of Tokyo. Tomorrow I'll meet Miki and we're probably going to just hang out and I'll try to make her take me to Harajuku so that I can find the Wakanabe barber shop to book an appointment for permanently straighten my hair.

Nails

First of all, some of you may wonder why I'm blogging so much now and it's simply because it's 1:30 AM in Japan and I'm waiting for my grandma in Sweden to skype with her. While I'm waiting I decided to post something again and this time... my nails. Now, most boys will probably find this post boring!

Anyhow, as most of you probably know Japanese girls are crazy about all sorts of manicure-thingies. There are tons of different details to add to ones nails and it's not THAT expensive actually. However, I brought some of my leftovers from Sweden and did it myself now while waiting. Simple, I guess.. but it works.

An ordinary day

Japanese sweets must be the best! I personally don't know the name of that sweet (if anyone knows, let me know). The only thing I know is that it's sweetened beans in it, haha.

So, today has been another exploring-Itabashiku-day! But first I went to the my city's ward to issue my National Health Certificate. That is something that every student with a student VISA must have and it costs about 1200円 and it must be paid every month. If the police catch you, which they apparently tend to do with most white gaijin-guys and other foreign-looking people, you can/will be deported from Japan. Anyhow, the man who helped me only spoke Japanese (here we go again) but somehow I figured what to do etc. and he handed me a big blanket and laughed quite fatherly at me and told me I have to go home and do my homework = read the blanket.

I must say that I really appreciate that people speak Japanese all the time to me, even though I only understand like 20% of it. Obviously most people can't speak English but like my guest house mate Tetsu, his English is excellent but he still speaks Japanese with me. Thumps up!

So, other than all that I went to ドン キホーテ myself today! It was a bit of a walk but it felt like it only took 10 minutes (but it took like 30 minutes). As I just strolled around in the huge store containing everything and nothing BIG BANG's song "Tell me goodbye" started coming out of nowhere and I had this insane happy-go-lucky-moment. Once a fangirl, always a fangirl. Also, while in the store I bought どら焼き and when I went out of the store I bought a greentea ice cream, WAS IT TASTY! UH-HUH! Also, I found a panties crane-game.... ahahah.. I laughed my ass off. Seriously, it sucks not being able to take pictures, I want to show you guys so many things. But, please have patience as soon as I skype with my grandma tonight I'll tell her to send me the USB-cable!

Umm, other than that I went to my favourite super market and bought a obento-box filled with yummy things. I also bought an apple juice and a curry-package to make curry tomorrow! I think that the Japanese apple juice is a lot sweeter than the Swedish, but it will be puuurfect for breakfast.



As I bought all these items I took another walk around the small alleys and it felt great not to get lost but as the night was coming closer I figured it wouldn't be too great of an idea to walk further in case in get lost anyway. But on my way home a small grandpa comes up to me and starts talking to me. He seems very friendly but as a the suspicious person I am I get a little scared and he asks me if I'm American but I simply answer that I'm European and we walk until he turns to the left to go to his house and I say "Sayonara" and he smiles and says the same. When I come home I ask my guest house mates if it's usual that Japanese old people approach foreigners and they only said that it happens "...because Japanese older people have a lot of time". So, if someone comes up to me next time I'll be friendlier and practice my Japanese more, yay! I love those of the older generation that are not hostile to foreigners.

One day when my Japanese is good enough I'll approach the old lady that helped me find my way home when I got lost the first day and I'll thank her and give her a gift! :D

Did I mention that I am dearly in love with Tokyo?

Japanese food #1

I really tried to take a good picture of holding up my meal but I failed completely. Next time I'll just put it somewhere and take a picture. However, I bought some kind of fried fish with something that tasted like kimchi with bamboo!

Wisdom of today;
Japanese people love their beans. As I took a walk along the small alleys of my city I found a great supermarket that Ralf showed me the other day. I looked at all things before I bought them and I must say... I didn't know that beans could have that many added flavors. I even tried natto yesterday which is fremented soy beans, if I'm correct? EW, was my reaction. But I'm going to give it a try in some weeks... however, I bought an onigiri today and I didn't know what was inside until I tasted it AND OF COURSE IT'S BEANS INSIDE. Facepalm.

Shiseido shampoo, you can wash your hair in luxury

Today I bought my first schampoo and conditioner in Japan! Memorable day, ne? Well, I went to the konbini around the corner called "Minishop" and that was like the only schampoo and conditioner I found. Also I don't know if they're cheap or not since I haven't really had the opportunity to compare them to other but they costed 600円 (= 51 kr). Anyhow, a fun thing to add is that I recently figured that the whole bathroom is a shower and the metallic bathtub is only a huge washbasin.

By the way, I tasted natto today. It was horrible. No, wait... worse than horrible. Therefore I also went to the konbini to buy another rice ball, rice balls in my heart.

My room ^-^

Remember that I told you I forgot the USB-plug to my camera. Well I figured I could show all of you my room by simply taking a picture with my macbook.

TOKYO ♥

Yesterday 10 AM I arrived to Narita airport in Tokyo. I knew that I was in Japan as soon as my trousers got intimate with my thighs - I used that only to tell you guys that Tokyo is humid as hell. Though I must say that I appreciate it a lot somehow. Because now I don't have to use coats and long trousers to stay warm during the summer (but I heard July won't be a pretty month, the humidness will probably be quadruppled).

Before I proceed on I must tell you guys that there will be a lack of photos for some time because I realized that I forgot to bring my USB cable to connect the camera to the laptop. SORRY, I was pretty disappointed myself when I found out. Not only did I forget to bring that but I also forgot to bring my electric outlet European-version. It sucked a lot so one of my room mates who is Swedish, called Ralf, walked with me today to ドン・キホーテ(Don Quijote) find an electric outlet. We didn't find one tho so he borrowed one of his outlets to me until I buy one myself.

Anyhow, the trip to Tokyo was pretty smooth I'd say. Except that I got all stressed when having my connection flight in Moscow. On my plane ticket it said that I would land on terminal D and that my flight to Japan would depart from terminal D as well. However, I landed on terminal F (a new terminal at Sheremetyevo) and as soon as I got inside the terminal some staff told me to wait and that they would take me to terminal D. So, I waited patiently for 5 minutes and then I asked them if we could go soon (even though my flight would leave in 2 hours) and they said that we had to wait for other passengers from other planes and it would take some time. I got all panicked and they realized I was stressed so they put me and three other passengers on a bus to terminal D. Also, when I get stressed I'm not really a shy person so I started talking to the other passengers and especially with a girl who was heading to Tokyo as well. Her name was Tomoko and I allowed her to stand with me in the line for the passport control, since the line was soooo long, crazy. We talked and she told me that she moved to Sweden to study for 2 years and it was quite impressive and it was good to have someone to talk to. But she told me that she went back to Tokyo for some week to meet friends. So, the 9 hour flight to Tokyo was quite boring, I didn't even manage to sleep, however the aeroflot personnel were quite nice and the interior of the plane was reasonable. I had booked a transfer to the guest house and it took approx. 1,5 hours to get there. No problem at all, I was way amazed by the green nature on my way from Narita airport and all the high high buildings with extremely cool designs, not to mention that I got an extreme wryneck.

As soon as I got accomodated and all I got in contact with Nana since we had planned to meet up as soon as I arrived. However, I didn't really know how to get around or where I lived so I looked for the Itabashihonchoo station so that we could meet there. Therefore I took a walk to where I thought it would be and suddenly I got lost and I tried to find my way home like crazy and when I thought I was home tried to open the door but I didn't manage to until I realized it was not my door (EVERYTHING LOOKS THE SAME OMFG). Desperate as I was a saw a small grandma clean her balcony so I politely tried to talk to her in Japanese and I just started off with "Sumimasen" and she was like all "WAIT WAIT I'LL COME DOWN". So she came down and I pointed at the door I was trying to open and I asked with my poor Japanese "Aa.. etoo.. kore wa bodaresu tokyo ne?" and she was like all "...aa iie! kochira desu!" and then she pointed to the door opposite to mine and of course that was the correct one. HOW EMBARRASSING. I just simply replied with thousands of bowings and "totemo arigatou gozaimasu" and she just laughed it off. Haha, I bet they think it's embarrassing to see gaijin people bow but it's a bit automatical somehow.

So, I simply went back home and told Nana that I couldn't find the station, at least I knew where I lived now. But I went out trying to find the station once again and I managed to find it and me and Nana met up. Then we headed to Kinsicho to meet her friends at a big pink shopping mall called OLINA. It was nice to meet them and they were all very funny and open-minded. Nana's boyfriend is crazy about ramen so we ended up eating ramen and I must say that it tastes sooooo good, it costed about 700 円. After that we simply walked around and I enjoyed some really nice views as I was so amazed. Since the Tokyo subways stop at 12 PM and I didn't really know how to get home I figured I'd leave at 10 PM in case I get lost. Luckily with some of Nana's help I found my way. As soon as I got home I chatted with my room mates and then I just fell down on my bed and took a 14 hours sleep.

God was it great to sleep after 60 hours of non-sleep.

Anxiousness!

The time is about to come... On Friday morning I'm taking the train to Copenhagen Airport and then my flight is leaving for Moscow. However, I've bought more necessary things that I have to bring to Tokyo. I guess I shouldn't count the black lenses to my "necessary-list" but I like them tho!

I met my sweet friend Aida today and she gave me a lot of handy advices for my arrival, since she visited Japan for seven months last year. She pretty much told me everything from boys to convenient stores and I definitely enjoyed our quality time together since I won't see her in a while now. Also, we went to one of the Japanese restaurants in my town and I ate yakitori! It was delicious and I can't wait to try all the new foods in Japan. When I leave Japan they probably won't let me in the plane since I'll be heavy like a gorilla kkkkk. Let's hope not. Aida adviced me to do a straight perm when I come to Japan since the damp atmosphere will rape my hair majorly and I she knows how it is since we have the same kind of hair. Just look at my hair on the second picture! Does that look like hair that will survive the damp atmosphere PLUS the raining season? I do not think so.

Another great thing I bought was a serie of face lotions and scrubs and I hope they'll work on me. I bought them at the Body Shop! Oh, I'll update more tomorrow since it's the last day before the arrival. I've managed to sleep a maximum of five hours every night this week due to anxiousness. GREAT.

Prom night = glamorous dresses (and awkward ladies)

Last night was my prom night and it was not as special as I might have wished it to be. However I must admit that I enjoyed seeing my grandmother happy since she had been waiting for this since forever. Grandpa and mami we're also there and they looked proud. My mother even cried? Haha, I don't understand why people cry when someone dresses up! Me and Mandy (and a whole lot of other girls) didn't have any prom dates so we just figured we'd go together. Mandy and I felt extremely awkward since we weren't THAT used to looking elegant and glamorous with the nice dresses that we wore (may I mention that I think I probably broke a rib due to the tightness of my dress? Haha).





I really love the last picture (without my retarded-looking face) since almost everyone in our friend family are in it and everyone look so happy, it was a pretty sweet day I must say ♥

Make your hair happy!

Now some of you might wonder what that green bottle and the retarded looking girl below the green bottle has to do with Japan? Well, the simple answer is that the green bottle has nothing to do with Japan but the retarded girl is going to move to Japan on the 18th of June. SO, now to the main topic of this post...!

That green bottle of schampoo is something I'm going to miss in Japan, even though I'm pretty sure they will have it. Ever since I started using that schampoo and balsam I haven't had ONE SINGLE bad hairday! It's been like good hairdays every time I use it and it gives my hair some kind of boost and shine which is definitely great. I would advise anyone to use that schampoo (and balsam) because it's worth the money and it makes your hair happy!

SO, nowadays my hair is definitely fit for fight! (that is... the sun which shines like a motherfucker 24/7 these days..) - and yes, that's what I wanted to 'show' with my retarded pose!