Weather changes

It's more than midway through October; and today was the first day I felt an autumn chill. 15degC. Took you long enough, Autumn, but I did so enjoy the past month of summery cool.

Time to pile on the autumn layers and break out the furry jackets. Hooray. ...Or not. More layers do mean taking more time to decide what to wear though. Ugh.

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And just because I have glue and a stack of receipts (I always keep my receipts in Japan), I'm making a recycled post-it pad. It's still a baby, but I'm sure it'll stack up in no time at all. My only grouch: I just wish it were more colourful.

Friends, Ping Pong and Food!

Last Tuesday, went to eat a Yakiniku Buffet (焼肉食べ放題）with 4 other Singaporeans on one of their recommendations. It was 1280yen (~18sgd; seems expensive but really quite 'cheap' by Tokyo standards) for 90 mins, including drink bar! No wonder reservations are usually required wow. Honestly, everything was pretty good - but a few dishes like the thinly sliced pork, and the squid were quite outstanding. Yum! Hopefully will be visiting the place again at least once more before going back to Singapore.

Good food (and great company of course) was followed by a leisurely stroll in the cool breezy night (~17deg) around Shinjuku and we went up to the Metropolitan Government Building to check out the city view. Not bad.

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2 days ago, on Saturday, went out with Isabel and 2 Japanese friends with the idea of playing... badminton! Shock shock! Especially since I don't have my badminton rackets here. But anyhow, this plan was born from the time when we played a little bit of badminton in the small garden in one of the Japanese friend's house, and he ended up wanting to play seriously/challenging me. Of course I said bring it on heh. But yeah, turns out, unfortunately, that the courts were seriously full that day. The system in that sports centre is kind of weird - you simply buy a voucher from the machine and go up to use the courts if any are empty. So disorganised no?! I like the system back home much better.

But anyway, not much loss, we ended up finding a place to play table tennis instead! And after some leisurely play between all 4 of us, the 'badminton challenger' became the table tennis challenger and well, since I've actually had 2-3 months of training before (looooooooong time ago), I guess there's really no point in delivering the results of this match-up. Then two people had other matters on, so we called another 2 to join us for dinner - Hiroshima-okonomiyaki! I'm sure I've mentioned this dish before - it's full of cabbage and soba noodles rather than the Osaka version that is heavy on flour batter. Really so yummy!! Turns out one of the girls that joined us later - a really cute and lovable Thai! - likes the place so much she's actually been there 4 times just this week! 0.0 Talk about staunch supporter huh.

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And recently, the weather's been okay - or honestly, quite fine. Ranges from 12deg (at night) to about 22 deg in the day time. Perfect spring weather I would say. Except that... I think I miss the cold. Being so used to feeling chilly and cold during trainings, I'm now really NOT used to perspiring at all! In fact it really feels quite uncomfortable. I'm sure I'll be re-adjusting soon though, especially since it seems like the start of summer is not too far off.

Oh humidity and sunlight, for good or for worse, welcome back to my life.

Short sleeves!

Last night was the first night that I've been able to just wear a short-sleeved t-shirt and walk in Tokyo at night! Spring! Spring!! SPRING!! It was about 18 degrees I think - and still very cooling thanks to the characteristic windiness of Tokyo.

And since last week, I've started perspiring during trainings. Somewhat odd and uncomfortable feeling but I'm sure I'll be used to it soon. Have to be =/. I almost miss winter already. Sigh. Hehe.

Post-Asakusa-Dinner Walk Around Ginza

Post-dinner at Asakusa, we all split up for further engagements and obligations of the night - Wf went with Nobu to drink with Nobu's senpai, Isabel to her church cell group meeting, Jf to a birthday party, Alicia back to study. Despite the deceiving darkness, the night was still young at 7.30pm, so Rachel and I spontaneously decided to take a walk around Ginza. Had heard that the light-up is pretty at Ginza especially nearing Christmas. I think it's funny how Japanese always use the word "illumination" in English to mean like Christmas light-ups.

Managed to browse the H&M shop for a while before it closed at 9pm, then made our way into the much-beloved Uniqlo which was having a late-night closing and sale because of its 60th anniversary. Didn't get anything from either though. Bought peach jelly that was on sale at 49yen at a supermarket and ate it whilst ambling through the streets lined with big-name brands. Prada, Gucci, Ferragamo, Cartier, Bvlgari, Chanel - you name it, it's probably there somewhere. Ginza is the high-end shopping area of Tokyo after all. More random ambling and some pictures with small xmas trees later, made our way back to the dorm. Home sweet (heater-ed) home yay. It's been really cold lately, with my computer weather widget registering a 4degC night a few nights back. Autumn is fully here and heralding her Wintry sister.

A collage of pictures from Ginza:

The Rain After The Sun

Past two days have been really mild weather-wise, mild enough for just a t-shirt and cardigan. Such weather never lasts too long though, lest we take it for granted. Started drizzling last night and still is now. Thankfully it doesn't seem as cold as the previous weeks when it rained - the winds on those days were amazing, seemingly defying gravity to carry the raindrops almost horizontally.

Still need to get an umbrella. And maybe boots or wellingtons. All my shoes are getting stinky thanks to rainy days ugh.

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Time's flying by nowadays. Even had a midterm test yesterday and it just hits me: am I really halfway through 1 semester? Not quite yet I guess (5 weeks outta 15 weeks) but almost there. Friends back in NUS are actually almost done with their semester though; Facebook statuses have been full of exam-related comments heh. 時間が早く立つね！Translation: Time flies by quickly.Learnt this courtesy of Yoshi during the Takaosan hike.

My Japanese stillllllll has an unimaginably long way to go, but recently at Chofu, I've been slowly being able to guess more and more of what's being said. Still very difficult though - grammar is one thing, though usually the meaning can be guessed from the main word; but lack of vocabulary simply stumps conversations, because if you don't know the word, you just don't. Working on it though! =)

Foggy Breath!

Yesterday was the coldest it has been since I was here - so cold that for the first time I could see my breath condensing when I breathed out!

Brr. 10 degrees I think. The cold isn't the whammer though, but the strong, strong winds. Need more cold-resistant clothing for sports =/ Sigh. Went to check out the sports warm tights at Odakyu Department Store today but they all cost about 150sgd per piece. Sigh.

Paddy Fields and All

Typhoon 18 apparently hit at 8am in the morning yesterday, and diverted away from Tokyo towards China. Classes were cancelled for the whole day, but we only found out after we had made the trip to the campus. Nonetheless, it was a good day of rest to have.

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Today was the first meeting of Paddy Fields The English Conversation Circle, and Isabel, Rachel and I all went for it. Well, not before we filled our tummies at the President's Welcome Reception for New Students heh.

The meeting room was a pretty small one located at the Toyama Campus and the members were practically spilling out of the room - apparently because this was the first meeting since summer break. First part was to be shuffled randomly and get a chat partner. Mine was Shungo, a somewhat shy but really nice sophomore who only joined in April this year. Apparently he's been busy with another school soccer circle, but yay we both support Man U! My second partner - or two rather - were 2 girls called Saki and Saori. Both are committee members I think - can't quite remember. My memory for people, names and faces is being sorely tested nowadays, what with the floorball club and this. We changed groups again, but this time with 4 in a group - and Shungo was back in, with another Japanese guy Yuki and a Korean girl Seung Hee. Yuki was very funny - blushed SO furiously pink when we asked where he want to Universal Studios Japan with, and it turned out it was his girlfriend lol! Seung Hee is trilingual, being able to speak Japanese, Korean and English - my respect!

Last part of the night's activity was to have 5 discussion topics, and for people to just split up according to what topic they wanted to discuss. Joined Yuting's group on "My new semester's resolution" and it was 6 girls, 1 guy. Inadequate space in the room meant we settled outside, which wasn't too bad since we were treated to amazing 'live' chorale music - seems like they were practicing for the WIF. Certainly strengthened my wish to join choir again though; but I probably have to search elsewhere because their standard was simply way beyond my level.

Post activity, we all went down to Saizeriya - where we had our first meal in Japan ever, and what irony that it was Italian - and ate in a group. The three of us having filled our stomachs (and saved our pockets) earlier, we simply ordered desserts. This was perhaps the better part of the night - at least for me - because it didn't feel so contrived as earlier. Sat next to the Club President, Hiro, across from Shungo-san and next to Rachel - whom I didn't stop teasing about Nino haha. She should so thank me though, cuz that way she found another fan-friend in one of the Japanese girls haha.

First circle meeting not bad at all - looking forward to more!


P.S. Oh and the best thing was, I finally found out what it is that supermarket cashiers always ask me, and how to respond! Alrightyy =))

Hmm Typhoon

Typhoon #18 is supposed to hit Tokyo tomorrow apparently, so morning classes (ie, Japanese language) has been cancelled and the rest of the day is pending the typhoon's performance tomorrow I guess.

Interesting; never been through a typhoon before. Wonder if it'll just be all rainy and windy though...

Weather

Last week was all hot up till Sunday, and then this week was mostly drizzly and chilly. What a turn of weather. Pretty hot again today - out in Harajuku anyway. And omgosh the crowd that stretched out along the looonngg street of Omotesando was mind-boggling. Weekends out always always make you realise how populated Tokyo is. And sometimes it's tiring - especially when you're lugging a darn heavy bag and squeezing your way through - but sometimes, it's almost... exciting. The vibes and bustle is quite astounding. Perhaps something that I wouldn't feel back home - probably also because I'm a tourist to this country.

Slowly turning cold... I like =)

But also making me realise maybeee I don't have much clothes for winter. Lol. But then again, classrooms are pretty hot. I guess I'll just need a good jacket.