Japanese Fashion vs. Canadian Fashion

As I walked through the crowded stores yesterday I noticed that "Lolitas" = the girls in Japan who never leave their house without their make-up, high heeled shoes, perfect hair and designer bag--also exist in Canada.

I went into the Guess store and was overcome first of all by the overpowering smell of perfume... yikes! Then I see all these tweens, and teenagers stressed like "Paris Hilton" wannabees, some with boobs almost popping out of their shirts with bleach blonde hair. OMG please if I wanted to see hooters I will just go to the strip club.

But not all women were dressed as Lolitas.. there were the Hillbillies too, the ones that don't care about their appearance and let their hair grow to their ass.

Am I being harsh? No just making observations.

I have come to the conclusion that Boxing Day shopping will never be my slice of cake, and I don't really care to spend hundreds of dollars on clothing that has a certain label.

Meh... I just want to be comfortable and look smart.

Whereas women in Japan walk around in high heeled boots and mini skirts during the winter, girls here seem to stick to low rise jeans, boots and low cut tops. The picture above is courtesy of my Swedish friend and she is sitting with typical "Lolita girls" in Japan.

Needless to say most of these girls all have Luis Vuittons, which surprisingly are becoming a more common sight here. I guess if I want one I'll have to get a sugar daddy. LOL! Just kidding, I make my own money and besides I'm not a label whore.

Where oh where art thou?

We tried to reach thee
But you did not answer our calls
We mailed thee but our messages were ignored
We drove to your house but you did not answer the door
We all miss you
The house is empty
We want to talk, but you refuse to listen
Wake up and see the truth before it's too late
Don't forget we love you!

This is National News Today???

The top news story of the day is the fact that Donald Trump now wants to sue Rosie for comments she made on the view! What is the world coming to? Is there really nothing else for reporters to report on. What about Cuba or North Korea? Nada.
In my opinion Donald Trump has too much time on his hands if he just wants to sue someone for stating the obvious. Miss USA is a fraud and Donald should not be an example of a great moral person. HA what a friggin joke.

Planes, trains and automobiles

Monday Dec. 18th I get up at 5:30 a.m., not because I want to but I had a plane to catch. Toshiko and her husband came round at 6:45 a.m. and we hauled my luggage to the bus station. I was glad they came to help me out.
A couple of mates of mine came to the bus station to see me off... I was really calm the whole day. I felt as though I was in a dream, perhaps because I hadn't been home in over a year.
Toshiko had the day off so she came with me to Fukuoka airport.
I encountered one problem at the airport: an overweight suitcase... oops must have been the purses and the shoes.
So instead of paying the 66,000 yen I opted to shift things from one suitcase to the next. I took out two photo albums from my black suitcase and that did the trick.
Wuh huh.. that was a close call.
By the time I had finished re-packing it was time to go through customs. I said my final goodbye and shortly after boarded my flight.
Once in Tokyo I had five hours to kill.
The laptop sure came in handy... :)

At 6:40 p.m. I was boarding the AA flight to Chicago..
Ten hour flight to Chicago.. then I had to go through American customs.. and ride a train to the next terminal.

At 5:40 p.m. on Monday in Chicago.. (remember time difference) I was ready to board my final flight to Toronto.

I was so glad to finally arrive in the T.O
When I walked into the lobby I almost didn't recognize my sister... she's taller than me. I am the oldest of three and the shortest how sad is that?
Oh well I guess I wasn't meant to be 5"9 I'll settle for 5"8.5

Being back home... is strange, in fact it doesn't feel like home anymore. I think it's because I'm so used to living alone.

Young Folks

Foreigner Status

In Japan I am considered a "Gaijin" or "foreigner." I do not fit into society but I am for the most part accepted here, and with that comes a certain type of celebrity.
I look different, talk another language and of course come from another country. Many young Japanese people want to hang out with "Gaijins" and will go out of their way to help you.
They seem to adore you, and you can't help but feel "loved."
Okay so I sound really cheesy but it's true.
It's like you get a foreigner status here, just because you are different.
That's why men have it so easy when they come to Japan.
In my opinion, Japanese women adore all foreigner men, even if they have no personality. Back in their home country no women would take a second glance at them, but here they are like "Gods" and subsequently acquire a macho type attitude. Which is no wonder why men tend to stay longer in Japan.. and some even stay here permanently.
I feel as though I am rambling so I will get to the point.
Basically I will miss the attention.. cause when I am back home on Monday I will just be a face in the crowd again.
I will not get the giggly "hello" from high school kids who just want to speak English.
Ahh okay I am getting so frigging emotional..... I have had an awesome time here and I will miss so many things.
However a new life awaits me!!
Ciao Nagasaki.. Ich werde Dich vermissen.

Streetcar accidents in Nagasaki...

Yes they do happen.

This one occured in April 2006.

Hippies... yes they do exist in Japan

Where is my Christmas spirit?
This is the second Christmas season I am spending in Japan, and as last year, I am not in the Christmas spirit.
I know why though. At home I am bombarded with television and radio commercials informing me of all the special gifts you can buy your loved ones. Since I haven't watched television, or listened to the radio for the past year I am not subjected to all the ads. Even if I did tune in, I probably wouldn't understand 80 per cent of what was being advertised.
I know most Japanese people don't celebrate Christmas, so I shouldn't expect things to be like they are back home. However, Japanese do eat Christmas cake. Where did this tradition come from?
According to the Wikipedia web site: In Japan, Christmas cake, traditionally eaten on Christmas Eve, is simply a sponge cake, forsted with whipped cream, decorated with strawberries, and usually topped with Christmas chocolates or other seasonal fruit.
By extension, Japanese women over the age of 25 have occasionally been called "Christmas cake" to express the traditional Japanese idea that women over 25 are undesireable as marriage partners.
This is also why Christmas cake is not eaten after the 25th of December.
Hmmm well I guess I am "a Christmas cake" LOL. Luckily this type of thinking doesn't exist in Canada.
Also contrary to the popular myth and KFC advertisements, chicken karaage (fried chicken) is not a traditional Christmas holiday meal in Japan. The Christams holiday in Japan is akin to Valentines' Day holiday in countries like the U.S. On this day, you will take the one you "LOVE" out on a special date. Most Japanese couples have dinners at upscale restaurants, hence there is no specific traditional meal consumed on Dec. 24th.

So KFC.. wants the world to think that all Japanese eat fried chicken at Christmas... ah not the case.

As for me.. I will be eating pierogi, ushka soup, herring and an array of other traditional German and Polish food.
Yummy can't wait.

Oh I have had Weihnachts Stollen and cookies already.. thanks.. to a kind man from Wuerzburg.

Talking to American People

I like this video, it shows that sometimes children are smarter than adults

Japanese Karaoke

Don't mess with the Dees...
This past weekend my mate and I were itching to shake our booties, and instead of going to Fukuoka we headed to Ayer's Rock in Nags. There weren't so many people, but we still had fun.
We even met a group of people from Tokyo, and I as I asked one of them what their job was, they said, "mass communication."
Wow.. I thought that's cool, cause that was part of my major in uni.
Later I found out the group was "on vacation," and did not work in mass communication. Ah lost in translation.
It makes me laugh! It reminds me of when I was young and the first thing I heard a girl say to me in English was "you are funny." In German Pfane is a pan, and I thought she said to me "I am a pan." LOL
It's moments like these that make living abroad quirky and enjoyable.

In Japanese cuisine, presentation is often very important. On the right, you can see a prime example of this.
A dish of fried oysters, with salda, rice, soup and tofu, for dessert.
Looks delicious and tasted great too.

As the holidays creep upon us all, I have had to start saying "goodbye" to friends I have made over the past year, and some that I've only met a couple of months ago.
Before "The Striker" left we all went bowling together, in the hopes of beating him. Kai managed to beat him in the first game.. and I came so close in the final game.. losing only, by one point. I had a personal best of 128 points, so I can't say I was too disappointed.
"The Striker" will be missed and so now there are only three of us left here in Nagasaki. The days are getting colder, and with no insulation offered in the small apartments my roomie and I have been freezing our butts off. I am even sleeping with a hat. I'm already looking forward to central heat and good wine. Soon I will be able to share my adventures with my family and friends... and begin planning my new life in Canada. In January though, I will be going down South for a while............... :) Funzies await me... life ain't too Shabby