I'm not a mind-reader, and I'm guessing you're not either.

I had an eventful past week. Hyunjoo came and went. Her sister came and went. I went to Tokyo and came back. Lots of coming and going. A few highlights/comments:

(1) Japan is a very expensive place to play in. I didn't keep official track of how much I spent in the last week between romping around Sendai and Tokyo (and when I say romping, I exaggerate completely), but I have a feeling my bank account is licking its chops for that next Fulbright payment.

(2) Christmas in Japan features an unbelievable amount of decoration and illuminated city streets for a country that doesn't actually celebrate Christmas. Every major part of Tokyo had incredible Christmas decorations, most beautiful probably being the dazzling blue and white tree lights outside of Roppongi Hills. Another odd thing about Christmas in Japan is that around here (and also in Korea, I hear), that Wham! song "Last Christmas" is among the Christmas classics. I hardly ever hear that in the States. While you can do worse than that song, I still prefer the classics: a little Bing Crosby, a little Nat King Cole, a little Carpenters (tell me Merry Christmas Darling doesn't make you feel like putting on flower-print polyester and snuggling up on some shag carpeting in front of a fireplace with that special someone), and last but not least, yes, a whole lot of Raffi. Douglas Mountain is so hot right now.

(3) Last Sunday, Hyunjoo and I celebrated our one-year anniversary, devouring a strawberry cake and buying matching necklaces to commemorate. As though a sign of things to come, the chain of my necklace just fell apart suddenly on Tuesday. Two days later, Hyunjoo and I got into a fight and broke up. We then passed the day awkwardly with her little sister, and then got back together after negotiations. I'm not going into details about it all, but she didn't like some things I said and did and I felt the same way toward her. This was exacerbated by the fact that she had to almost completely depend on me here since she doesn't speak Japanese. But we talked it out, and things were great from there on out. However, while we were broken up, I had the most awkward day at Disneyland I've ever had ...

(4) Speaking of which, Disneyland (or I should say, Disney Sea - Japan's answer to California adventure) in Japan is an interesting experience. Having gone to Disneyland in California at least 30 times over the years (I can't think of a year I haven't gone - and I've gone twice most years of my life I think), I'm a seasoned Disney veteran. First of all, DIsney Sea is recent Disney on steroids: every building is gorgeously designed and humongous, all too often shops and restaurants take up the names and space of rides (such as the mutually gigantic restaurants Vulcania and Horizon Bay) which centers the park way more on shopping than having fun, and the architecture and design-themes have a touch of Frank Lloyd Wright. But going to Disneyland in Japan is a little different because when you're at Disneyland in Anaheim, its kind of like a cleaner, more cramped, cartoony version of the world outside the park. It's a much more digestible fantasy world. However, in Japan, the streets are clean everywhere, some people's everyday clothes would pass for a costume in the U.S., and everything is cramped. Disney Sea's walkways and buildings are therefore actually broader and more spacious than the real world outside the park. And its Western architecture is a lot closer to the architecture I'm used to back home. It became a bizarre commentary on the things that are great and the things that suck about Japan compared to home. However, Disney Sea gets points for its cute popcorn vendor idea: vendors all sell different flavors, such as sea salt, cappuccino, strawberry, and apple. The special souvenir bucket is only $10.

(5) Tacos. Lots of tacos. I made tacos with Hyunjoo on our anniversary to pretty good success (though taco sauce is tough to come by in Sendai) and had delicious tacos in a little shop in Harajuku.

(5) Last Tuesday, in a trip that eventually cost me about 3 hours of my life, I went all the way across town to try and get my re-entry permits, only to show up on the Immigration Bureau doorstep as they were closing at 4 PM (their middle-of-nowhere office is conveniently open 4 hours a day). I then get lost on my way home. Fuck you immigration bureau.