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I said I would lose myself and that I did. It took me a bit to figure out how to use the JR Pass. A bit = all morning. I think it's more of a problem of not understanding mass transit. Darn us Californians and our cars. So after staring at maps and being a baka gaijin I managed to get myself in Akihabara accidentally instead of Shibuya. Of course I was planning on going to Akihabara, just not at the moment (for those of you who don't know they're in like complete opposite directions, but that shouldn't surprise anyone who's ever driven with me).
I drift aimlessly for a while with my headphones on, you know living life to my own personal soundtrack ... -_-; Anyway in sociology they used to say that people are not watching you as much as you think they are (I can't remember the terminology that went with that). Which for the most part is true, the exceptions are people like me who observe/people watch for a hobby and are wandering around by themself so they aren't distracted. In one of the anime stores I came across a white guy in a misspelled NERV shirt, I pondered what country would spell NERV RHUL until I read that back and realized it was an anime society shirt (silly me). Somehow through my headphones I heard English, call it selective hearing. I turn it over a couple times in my head and decide what the hell! "Hi I heard English and had to come over can you tell me what to do around here?" (or something to that effect).
The white one, Chris, is English or British or whatever you call them (go American education system). He's a sophomore in college studying geology. He seemed friendly enough. To sterotype him for convenience purposes, he seems to be your typical Otaku.
His companion, Tak -- initially wasn't sure if they were together -- was from Osaka, but went to boarding school in Switzerland I guess and now is a sophomore at the same college. He had a great accent that I instantly liked -- don't give me a hard time, most girls I know (since when I have I known girls?) have an accent fetish of sorts. He was a lot harder for me to read, more reserved. Like I couldn't tell if he hated me and was just being polite. I'm reminded of the interactions between Fuu and Jin in Samurai Champloo. Oh yeah, he wanted to get into IR, so he was also studying Sociology.
I ended up following them around, it was very nice of them to let me tag along. Chris had an Otaku guide to Tokyo and was leading us -- kinda. After trudging around hungry on a wild goose chase for a Maid Themed cafe -- maybe it was going to be like Samurai Champloo -- we finally found one. I had imagined the girls in shorter skirts, but whatever. I had beef curry, one of the cheaper things on the menu (gotta stay withing 10 bucks a day on food =P). Tak ended up paying for it, which was super nice.
Next we went to Ueno in search of a theater playing the FMA movie. My ticket ended up being like 400 yen less 'cause I'm a chick. Tak says sexism still exists in Japan, in this case though I'm not too distraught, less money is less money. Since when I have been a feminist anyway?
I enjoyed the movie, though my understanding was limited by my toddler like understanding of Japanese. Some of my favorite things were Nazi Hughes, Jew Fuhrer, and adorble human Al. Though I'd really like to read the manga story, man things take a long time to translate.
We made a quick stop at Tokyo tower at night because it was on Chris' to-do list then had Yoshinoya -- I thought it was just a Californian chain. They were staying somewhere near me, but I don't remember where. I guess today was further evidence that the way I survive in this would is by being a harmless girl that can latch on to people.