Life Could be a Dream Shabu-um Shabu-um

Uh oh, me thinks I gave you readers a pun that you're going to have to reasearch to understand. How mischivious of me >.<
The following takes place on April 4, 2008

I made an appointment with Sophia's Student Couseling Center for today. Now, contrary to what many of you may be thinking, let me asure yuou that I am quite mentally stable. I was there to gather information on the services offered by this center and common Japanese abroad issues that students experience. I think I may make some type of pamphlet for our abroad office back at Storrs. It is my hope that more UConn students will be willing to travel to Japan if they know that there's a free counseling center should they get overwhelmed and feel they need help (they even have English speaking counselors). I spoke with a counselor for about an hour about these issues and she was extremely helpful, if a bit dodgy. She would usually reply with "its always different". Now I understand that the mental health field is not a perfected science and that the counseling center gets a myriad of people with all different types of problems. But I'm slowly learning that her dodgy nature might be more due to her Japanese nature. In fact, she basically said as much. You see, the Japanese communicate not just verbally but in many other ways, but more on this in a Random Observation post.

Following the interview, I realized three things. I had the day to kill, I was hungry and I wanted to explore. So I hopped over to Shinjuku (this time with 10% less being lost!) and began a mini-quest for good food. I had seen a small portion of Shinjuku already with Pat two days before, but back then I had a goal. However, on this day I was just going where my feet took me. So I walked the main streets, and would randomly duck into side streets to see what I could find (Just call me Dan Bourdain). I saw quite a few restaurants around and all of them looked amazing. However, I decided on a small shop with prices which suited me. It turned out to be a ramen shop! I bet that college students out there are all groaning as they look over to their dorm food container and see the massive quantities of Maru-Chan or Tops Ramen. I assure you, this is not the same thing at all. Simply put it was amazing. I'm not sure I can ever go back to instant ramen (*cough* bull *cough*).

Deciding to walk off the delicious meal, I went back to the Odakyu department store Pat and I had visited the other day for a closer look. I was amazed. Honestly, Japanese department stores have everything a person could want all in one place. But then I found it. I found a place I have always wanted to go to, but should never be allowed to get close to with money. For those of you who know me, what is a place in Japan that, if I go to, there is a very real possibility of me blowing through my 4 month budget in roughly 4 minutes? You have 3 seconds 3...2...1. For those of you that haven't figured it out A FREAKIN' JAPANESE TOY DEPARTMENT! Yes folks, I admit it there are times when, at heart I am a geeky kid. At this store they had the latest in Kamen Rider gear and various models and kits at reasonable prices, and dig this NO SHIPPING AND HANDLING. Oh had the fates rewarded me this day.
To the left is a picture of this year's Super Sentai (on what Power Rangers is based) toy display. Quite honestly I almost fell to my knees in tears, it was like looking upon the most beautiful altar you could imagine. In fact at this point I may have actually been lightheaded and foaming at the mouth :D
This year the Super Sentai is Engine Sentai Go-onger. This is a cut out of their leader looking pretty bad ass.

Anyway, after about a half hour of savoring the various toy sights I stood in contemplation of the decision I had ahead of me. This decision in many ways could affect not only the rest of my time in Japan, but be an indicator for the rest of my life. I could:

1) Go on a manic spending spree right then and there which would bankrupt me and display a complete lack of restraint which inevitability begins a slippery slope of lack of pride and self control
2) Buy something small and learn that it is ok to give into your urges a little bit
3) Walk away and earn self respect for my ability to control my desires.

I managed to walk away folks (cue the balloons and streamers)! I did something I never thought I'd be able to that day. Personally the only thing that could be sweeter than the satisfaction I feel right now is that $200.00 model I wanted....OH GOD WHY DIDN'T I BUY IT?! In actuality I'm still amazed at the fact that I didn't break bank when I saw the toy department. But I would be rewarded later that day.

When I returned home, okaasan told me that the family was taking me out for a welcome dinner! How awesome right? We left around 7:00 pm and arrived at a rather nice restaurant. I had no idea what we were eating, but I knew that it was going to be delicious. It turns out we were eating shabu shabu. For those of you who don't know, at a shabu shabu restaurant you are provided with a bowl of water which is boils at the table. You are then provided with a variety of thinly sliced meat and vegetables which you dip in the boiling water to cook. The meat cooks quite quickly and you have a variety of sauce to accompany the meat. I know it sounds odd, and many of you are wondering why we would pay to cook our own food. But its one fun experience. This was also the first meal where the entire household was gathered to eat.

From left to right: Oniisan #1, Okaasan, Oniisan #2, and Otousan (father in Japanese). Take a guess at which brother is older (pst: here's a hint, when someone asks you a question like that, the answer is usually the one you wouldn't normally suspect)
There's something I wish to say before I continue my tale. When you hear stories about people who live with a family from another country, I feel as though they don't often point out the prominence of the language barrier. While I was having a wonderful time enjoying being with these people (and will until the end) the language barrier often causes a bit of an awkward silence to overcome conversation. But more on language barriers and communication in another post ne? On to the food! Massive plates of meat and veggies were brought out and we dug right in. At some point, beer was brought out and it almost felt as if a competition was present of who could hold their beer better otousan, oniisan # 2, or myself.
Thankfully, I'm a UConn student so I'm not as much of a novice in such matters. It was amazing how much we ate, but it was truly a great dinner and quite oishii (delicious). At the end of dinner we all said gochisosama-deshitta (something along the lines of "I have been treated/spoiled") and headed home. As was slowly becoming the trend, I spent the night talking with my okaasan and watching baseball with oniisan #1 and headed off to bed. But I must say, it was an amazing day all in all.

Today's Japanese word will be: Kazoku (pronounced: Ka-zo-ku). This word means "family" in Japanese. Usage: Watashi no kazoku wa koko imasu English: My family is here. Usage note: Kazoku is used when referring to one's own family. When referring to another family you add the prefix "go" to the word. So "your family is here" would be Anata no go-kazoku wa koko imasu.

After a night like this, there's really little to explain. These people have taken me in an are treating me like family. In fact at one point this past weekend my okaasan told me that I am now part of her family, which is really endearing. When I look back at my reasons for wanting to get a dorm in Japan, I remember that it was the need to have freedom and to meet people I could go out with more easily. In this home I've been given the freedom I was worried I wouldn't have and gained more than just some people to hang out with. I've gained a new family. So thank you to the family for taking me in an I will do my best to deserve to be part of your family.

Gambatte

-DPN