Hokkaido

I marked another big destination off my places to visit in Japan. Hokkaido! For those who don’t know, Hokkaido is the northern most island of Japan. It is famous for its dairy, nature, fresh seafood, and snow. Everyone asked me if I was a skier or snowboarder when they heard I was going to Hokkaido in the winter. Osakan thinking is that anyone who goes to Hokkaido in the winter for any other reason besides to snowboard, ski, or see the snow festival in February is crazy because it’s “sooooooo colddddd.” Haha! I had to constantly explain that NO, I don’t ski or snowboard and that I simply enjoy cold weather and snow. Also, I went to Hokkaido not only to see what it was like but to visit my friend as well.

I went to Hokkaido literally the weekend after I returned from my winter vacation in America. I took Friday off and flew up there. The following Monday was a holiday, so I flew back then. I think I was well prepared for the cold of Hokkaido since I had just been back in Chicago for two weeks. One thing I was not prepared for was the amount of snow! I have NEVER seen so much snow in my life! Maybe the big blizzard a few years ago in Minnesota when I was a student living in Minneapolis was somewhat comparable, but that was kind of a rare occurrence whereas it’s like this every year in Hokkaido. It literally snowed every day I was there.

SO MUCH SNOWWW!!!

I met my friend at Sapporo Station. Sapporo is the biggest/main city in Hokkaido. We caught up over some coffee and then checked into our hotel. It was really hard to walk in general because the sidewalks and streets were caked with ice. I was surprised by how quickly people drove on the ice. We went to dinner at this cute like American themed restaurant. I got soup curry which is a specialty of Hokkaido apparently. I got a vegetable shrimp one. Everyone talks about how delicious Hokkaido seafood is, so I made sure to get the one with shrimp in it. It also came with a side of rice that you could add cheese on top of. It was good! The only thing that I still need to overcome is seeing faces on my seafood. I don’t eat beef, pork, etc., but I do eat seafood for the most part. Japan likes to leave the head on things which freaks me out. When I pulled the skewers with the shrimp on them out of the soup, I found the shrimp staring back at me. I asked Anna (my friend) how to eat it, and she took one of the skewers from me and showed me how to pull its head and legs off. It wasn’t that bad when she did it, but when it came time for me to pull the heads off the other two, I felt like some sort a evil torturer… even though they were already dead. I’ll admit they did taste good though. Thank you little guys for providing me with sustenance.

Downtown Sapporo - Susukino District

Purikura always.

Soup curry.

After dinner, we went to this little hole in the wall wine bar. I liked it there! It had a sort of charm. After that, we went to a bar that Anna and her friends often go to called “Rad Brothers.” It started off really fun until these two Canadian guys showed up. They (well one in particular) were out of their minds drunk. For whatever reason, they chose to come over to our table and start talking with us. I won’t get into all of the crude things they did and said, but I can assure you that some of it was illegal…yikes!

Charming little wine bar.

Unfortunately, they followed us to the first club we planned to go to called “Booty.” Lol. There weren’t that many people in there because it was still kind of early. Looking back on it now, Anna did something kind of funny to me even if at the time I was like wtf?! The second we walked in, she grabbed the first Japanese guy she saw (who happened to be a salary man and looked like he was possibly going on 40), and told him that I like Japanese guys and that I could speak Japanese really well…bfffttt. Gee, thanks Anna! He was following me around like a lost puppy dog after that.

This was the last we saw of those crazy guys....

We were there for like a half hour before Anna said she wanted to head back to the hotel. At first I was like “What?! It’s still early,” but then I could tell that she wasn’t feeling well, so we took a taxi back to our hotel. I felt totally fine until my head hit the pillow. I’ll spare you the details by just saying that it was a rough night and trip to back to Anna’s home the next day. I have a tendency to party a little too hard when I travel to new places. I think it’s because I get really excited that I’m living my dreams by traveling to new places that I just get caught up in the moment. I will be going to Hong Kong and Macau in a couple months, and I am going to vow to myself that I will not get too crazy when I go!

Anna’s town is a small little village called Uryu with a population of about 2,000. It’s actually very similar to my home town in America which also has a population of around 2,000. I don’t often get to experience places like that in Japan, though. It was a nice change of pace since Japan is for the most part so urban and crowded. The main big town near hers is called Takikawa. I got all excited because there was this konbini called Seicomart in Hokkaido (well at least I’ve never seen it anywhere before). Konbini (convenience stores) are a big thing in Japan, and I swear that if you stay here long enough, you get excited about them too. It’s hard to explain, but you can do so much at a konbini like print things, pay bills, buy concert tickets, get yummy treats, take out money, and more. People tend to become partial to one (for me, 7-11) or like certain things about each one (mmm…Lawson’s karaage-kun). So when I saw a new konbini I had never heard of, I was all about checking it out to see what was up. Haha!

Checkin' out the Seicomart.

When we got to her house in the afternoon on Saturday, we took it easy and had girl time. I loved just hanging out with my friend in her cozy little house. We watched movies and shows, talked, lounged around in our pajamas, and cooked dinner together. I was so jealous of Anna’s place. Like I said, it’s actually a house and not an apartment. It was pretty big, and her rent is super ridiculously cheap. She had it decorated so neatly too. However, I don’t regret my living arrangements at all. Sure, I wish I had a nice, big, cheap house, but if it means that I can’t live near the city, then I would choose my little, expensive apartment any day! I am still convinced that I got the best placement of all time.

Anna's house. Holy snow pile!

On Sunday we planned to get some good food and go to an onsen. First, we had to take her car to get fixed though because the windshield wipers broke. I do not envy having to own a car in Japan. It seems like such a pain, especially in Hokkaido weather! Anna has had to get her car fixed so many times, it’s crazy! Plus, it’s her second car since she moved here which was at the same time as me. Her rent may be cheap, but having to deal with a car makes up for part of it as far as I’m concerned. Not to mention that in addition to gas, water, and electric, people in Hokkaido also have to pay a kerosene bill which is pretty pricey. Apparently using kerosene is how people keep their home warm in Hokkaido…ughhhh when is Japan gona get central heating?!?

Anyway, Anna invited two of her friends to come along with us to the onsen and dinner. We went to a ramen place for lunch before getting her wipers fixed. I got miso ramen. That’s another staple of Hokkaido. I enjoyed it. Then, we picked up her friends. They were super nice and interesting! I’m glad I got to meet them. After that, we went to an onsen in a town called Bibai. The onsen was called Yurinkan. One of the highlights of my trip was sitting in the outdoor onsen with beautiful snowy scenery around me while snow gently fell on to my hot skin. It was so nice!

Miso ramen.

Yurinkan.

The four of us went to this nice kaitenzushi place for dinner. I was excited to try sushi in Hokkaido since Hokkaido has a reputation for fresh seafood. The sushi ended up being really good! One thing I wanted to eat in Hokkaido, but we didn’t really have the time (and possibly money?) was crab. If I ever go back, I want to have like a whole crab meal! I did, however, get to eat some crab sushi. I decided that that would have to be good enough for me.

Fresh sushi. :)

Crabs for sale at the airport...next time my friends.

We returned back to Anna’s place after dinner and had more girl time lol! It was our last night together. We ate cookie dough, did mud masks, and watched more movies. It was a nice way to end the trip. My goals for going to Hokkaido were to party in Sapporo, spend time with my friend, see snow, eat delicious food, and overall just relax in the countryside. I got to do all of those things!

On Monday, I traveled back to Osaka. Anna drove me to Takikawa station. From there I took a train to the airport and flew back to Osaka. There was one moment of significance for me on this day (besides eating the most delicious naan I’ve ever eaten at the airport (it was filled with cheeeeeese…omg)). That moment was when I was waiting for the train at Takikawa station.  There were like three other people besides me waiting on the platform. The air was so cold and crisp, but to me, it felt so good and refreshing. Snow was gently falling, and there was this little four note melancholy tune playing on the platform. It was so incredibly peaceful and surreal feeling. I felt like I was inside of a videogame or something. Maybe it seems weird, but for some reason, that moment reminded me of my childhood when everything was simple and peaceful. I know this is a strange way to end my post, but that is all I have to say. Thanks for reading.

Hokkaido. A winter wonderland.

Winter Vacation...in America!

After one full year of not setting foot in my home county, seeing my friends, family, and pets, and eating the foods I have eaten my whole life, I finally returned to America for a short 12 days. It felt so short that it was almost like a tease. I have missed home so much. Of course I enjoy living here in Japan, but not being able to see the people closest to you for a whole year really wears on you. I will write about what I did and my feelings about everything.

I have grown to really dislike the flight between Japan and America. I have now flown between the two countries 7 times. From Chicago to Tokyo and vice versa isn’t so bad because it’s direct, but when flying between Osaka and Chicago, you must make a layover which really makes the whole process feel even longer. I’ve got much better at sleeping on planes, but sitting in a small, uncomfortable seat for 12 hours and then another 3 ½ in air so dry that you can never feel hydrated is something I have really grown to dread. Not to mention the overall feeling of fullness and dirtiness. They feed you so much food and drinks that you become bloated and uncomfortable, and each hour you sit there, you feel your mouth getting stale and your face and hair getting oily. Not to mention the boredom… It’s great that you can watch a brunch of free movies, but after 3 or 4, you just don’t really feel like watching anymore. ANYWAY, I’ll stop complaining about planes.

When I landed in San Francisco, I thought I would have the same kind of culture shock that I did when I went home for Christmas before which was that everyone was fat and rude. This time I had an opposite kind of culture shock. Instead of being annoyed with my own people like before, I felt like I finally fit in amongst these people. I didn’t feel like a big flashing sign in a crowd of people who look similar. I felt excited that no one was staring at me, and I didn’t feel ashamed of how I look. I was amazed by the variety of people around me: black skin, white skin, brown skin, tan skin, pale skin, blonde hair, red hair, white hair, grey hair, brown hair, pink hair, curly hair, tall, short, fat, skinny, leggings, low cut shirts, belly shirts, tattoos, piercings, Asian, European, African, Middle Eastern… I felt like I was going to explode with all these different kinds of people around me. I couldn’t stop starring at everyone. I appreciated the variety of people and the ability to feel completely comfortable among them. A small part of me was sad, however, that I was no longer “special.”

Next, I was shocked by the food right off the bat. I simply ate a Caesar salad at the airport, but there was real parmesan cheese in it, the dressing was rich, and there were pumpernickel croutons in it. My friend Kris who also rode the same plane as me let me try his jalapeno kettle chips. I almost choked from the impact of the flavor. It was like I had never tasted something with so much flavor. Wow!

After the second flight, I made it to Chicago. My friend Rodney was there to pick me up. I was so happy! On my way home, he took me through a Taco Bell drive through. It was heavenly… Why is taco bell so addicting? I swear they must put crack in it or something. When I got home, everyone was up waiting for me. My dogs greeted me excitedly. I’m not sure who was more excited, me or them! I picked up my little sister and hugged her and squeezed her. I went into my gigantic living room and collapsed on the warm carpeted floor and took it all in. The comfort of home is something you really take for granted until you don’t have it anymore. The smell, the warmth, the sound of the TV, the comfort of being in the vicinity of people you love, the soft couches, blankets, pillows, and carpet, a fridge full of familiar tastes that you had forgotten, and 4 furry critters who want your love.  Sometimes I wonder if I could ever live permanently in Japan, for example if I fall in love with a Japanese man or if I get some sort of incredible job. I don’t mind the idea of it so much except for this one thing…I just can’t seem to be comfortable in here. It’s a great place to spend some time in. I can get by with the variety of food available, I can make new friends and find people to care about, and I can have a lot of fun, but there are things about Japan that I just can’t seem to accept, things that make me uncomfortable. First, the distance from my family, pets, and close friends. Next, I can’t tolerate the damn summer here. The heat and humidity is something I spend the whole year thinking about and dreading. Last, homes in Japan are simply not comfortable at all to me. The reasons being that 1) There is no central heating or cooling…like seriously wtf?! You call yourself an advanced country, but people are either sweating or shivering in their own homes and LITERALLY DYING from the elements. Maybe if you could at least start believing in the use of insulation, that’d help…slightly (Sorry, this is turning out to sound a bit bitter…I really do like Japan, I just get frustrated, and I suppose writing it in a blog is a good way to get it out. Please bear with me here.). 2) Because of the dreaded summer humidity that seems to last all through fall as well, carpeting is not a option because of 3) Mold. I remember when I first came here and told my coworker that I was afraid of mold. She laughed at me and said that mold was a normal thing. NOT IN AMERICA! 4) Houses are so small. I know I’ve been so spoiled by living in a very large house in America, but after living in my tiny little Japanese apartment, it makes even small American homes seem big. 5) Get clothes dryers. Period. 6) I would appreciate furniture that is at least more than a foot off the ground. I’m not saying that you can’t get that kind of furniture in Japan (I do have a bed instead of a futon like most people), but Japanese homes just aren’t meant to have big, tall furniture because the houses themselves aren’t big or tall, nor are the people (generally speaking). Sitting on or close to the ground all the time really irritates my lower back. 8) Florescent lights aren’t nice. 7) Lastly, tatami flooring may look nice, but it doesn’t smell nice to me. I burn candles and stuff all the time, but that doesn’t help when I come home from work and walk into a house that smells like an old barn. The candles only cover it up when I’m at home. SO, I think my point to all of this besides letting off steam is that I have learned not to take the comforts of home for granted. It was something I thought about and enjoyed during my whole trip home. America may have all sorts of issues, but we do know how to make things convenient and comfortable even if it’s at the expense of other things I rather not get in to.

Mia

Mouser

Moguls. I have one other dog, but I didn't
get a good picture of her. :/ 

Home sweet home.

My first full day home, I pretty much just stayed at home and did little things like unpack, wrap Christmas gifts, decorate the Christmas tree with my sister which is a tradition, and eat a wonderfully home cooked chicken taco dinner with refried beans and homemade salsa, guacamole, and Spanish rice.

Decorating the tree.

Deliciousness.

The next day, I got a mani/pedi with my mom. My friend Kaitlyn came over, and then my mom, sister, grandpa, Kaitlyn, and I went out for dinner at Turtle’s Tap where I had worked for 5 years. Until then, I had completely forgotten about the existence of mozzarella sticks lol.

The next day was Christmas Eve. We had a party like always. My grandma, grandpa, parents, sister, sister’s boyfriend, and two friends were there. We ate lots of delicious food and exchanged presents. I was particularly excited about eating many kinds of cheese and dips. The most surprising thing about the day was that Kaitlyn asked me to be her maid of honor!!!! I was so shocked and happy!

So many kinds of cheese!!

Mitch came over for a bit!

Sister love.

Christmas Eve dinner.

So obviously the next day was Christmas. I had slept in my sister’s room, and we woke up early together. We opened presents from each other and a few from Santa haha! My mom made cinnamon rolls as usual. It was a nice morning, and I got some nice stuff. We had a second party in the evening which is kind of unusual. Even more family members came to this party. We had a whole new round of food and presents! It was a very festive couple of days!

On the 26^th I went to see the Hunger Games Catching Fire with my mom. It was so good! However, I was reminded of how rude Americans can be sometimes compared to Japanese people. There were people being so noisy in the theater. One kid was playing their Gameboy with the volume all the way up!! ARRGGGGHH! I was so pissed off.

After the movie, I went to Kaitlyn’s place to have a little get-together with some girls. We played games, drank and little, and snacked. One part of one the games was so funny because Kaitlyn had to go to a neighbor’s home and give them this really weird necklace with old people faces on it or something bahaha! Later that night, I got to see my friend Stephanie too! I felt kind of bad because I still had jet lag, and I couldn't talk to her that long because I was so tired.

Girl time. :)

The next day I spent the whole day shopping with my sister. We went to Buffalo Wild Wings for lunch. It was a really busy day, but it was fun. I missed spending time with my sister, and I wished I could’ve spent even more time with her while I was home…but she has a boyfriend now, and she’s 18, so you know how that goes lol!

On the 28^th I had a Rodney day.  He is like my other half. We are pretty much the same person except he is male and I’m female. We got lunch at Chili’s, saw the 2^nd Hobbit movie, and chilled out. Later there was a party at our friends’ house, so we all spent the night there drinking and playing games. I got to see several of my old high school friends. It was nice to catch up with them!

I missed house parties.

On the 29^th, I visited my friend Anthony. We carried on the tradition we have or ordering Chinese food from Dragon City and watching movies. It was great! That day was particularly cold. My body is actually starting to adjust to Osaka’s climate.

The 30^th I went to Tinley Park to visit my aunt and co. We ordered Chicago deep dish pizza and omg…how I missed Chicago pizza!! It was really nice hanging out there. We talked and watched TV. It was really chill. This day, my childhood friend from Ohio came with his family to celebrate the New Year with us. My friend had actually come to visit me in Japan before. That was the last time I had seen him.

Heaven in the form of pizza.

CJ and Kaitlyn! <3

So on New Year’s Eve, we all went to our favorite Mexican restaurant together for dinner. God, it was so delicious! We drank margaritas, ate, and spent time merrily. We went back to my house after and had sort of a quiet, but nice countdown to the New Year. We watched the ball drop on TV, continued drinking a little, and hugged at midnight. Our neighbors shot off fireworks which was fun to watch.

New Year's Eve dinner.

On the first, our friends returned back to Ohio. I mostly took it easy for the rest of the day. I had to pack to go back to Japan and whatnot. My mom made my favorite meal, taco salad, for my last night of eating at home. We had a really nice family dinner together.

On the 2^nd, we basically had to run errands all over the place. We had dentist appointments, my laptop had broke the previous day, so we searched for a new one, and we went up to the hotel near the airport since my flight was so early the next day. My parents and I had a goodbye dinner at a restaurant that night. It was kind of sad. I don’t think I will be able to go home for Christmas this year, so it might be a whole year and a half almost until I see them again because I will go home for my friend’s wedding at that time. I can’t even fathom it…

Bye Dad. p_q

Bye Mom. p_q

So in conclusion, I really enjoyed my trip home, and I am going to continue missing it. I signed my contract for a third year here without any second thoughts, though. Even while I was enjoying myself at home, I still felt like I was missing out on things happening in Japan for those 12 days. I am not ready to give up my life here yet. It doesn’t seem that long ago that I really came into my own here and started really enjoying myself. I always thought I’d look back at college as being the best days of my life. Of course they were amazing, but my time in Japan is turning out to be amazing too! Whatever comes next for me in life promises to be exciting as well whether it’s going to graduate school abroad or meeting someone and starting a family life with them. I hope I never have to look back and think that the best days of my life are over. I hope I can look back and appreciate the experiences I’ve had while enjoying the present and looking forward to the future.