Some Konandai

WHAM!

Take it.

Haven’t posted in a bit because not a lot am been going on. Last week I’ve mostly been sitting around Dave’s apartment, internetting and watching TV. This past weekend saw some action though.

Sometime before the weekend though, we met some of Dave’s students for some kind of crazy mid-day drink-o-thon. Not really. But there was alcohol. I should correct your imagination by saying that Dave’s students are neither twenty-something partiers, nor elementary-school lightweights, but rather middle-aged housewives… Whaaa? I know. Aghast, right? I led you on.

Whatever day it was, Dave and I were supposed to be hiking with, I assume, these very same students… maybe. But it got rained out. So, instead, we met a woman at a nearby shopping center. She took us inside, where there were two more women. We walked to another woman’s house about 10 minutes away. I still had no idea what was going on. But they were small. And I was pretty sure I could fight them if necessary.

Turns out it was just a lunch of some kind. They started straight away, mixing seemingly normal ingredients into the Japanese cluster-effs you’re used to hearing your friends talk about. It was magic to watch it happen. Plus they handed us beers. Then, as more courses came out, more alcohol did as well. Some awesome, fruity wine. Then the heavyweight, sake, stumbled into the arena. I made sure not to drink too much, because this was effing weird. I had just woken up like, an hour before, and now these women/cougars were cooking up a four-course feast and seemingly trying to get us drunk. I’m sure that wasn’t actually the case. They seemed nice enough. The the matching forearm emblems threw me. (that sentence isn’t real)

At some point, we rolled over to the coffee table for some tea and cake. Then we sat there for a while, until they asked if we’d like some more tea. Green tea this time. It was about halfway through my cup of this that I realized we had probably been there about 20 minutes too long by now. I forgot that we could stay there all evening, and they would NEVER ASK US TO LEAVE because they’re too damned polite. DAMN THEM. I whispered to Dave that we had better make a hasty exit. A few minutes later, he looked at his watch and muttered something about having things to do. Lies. We had nothing to do.

We left all buzzed. Which was weird for me, not being an alcoholic and all. It was cool anyway.

Teh weekend.

Saturday night was supposed to be an “international party” near Chinatown (I believe there’s a Chinatown in EVERY country on the globe). But we couldn’t find it. Dave was in the mood for drinking. I wasn’t really. But we stayed out and hit a few bars in Chinatown. Found a nice little bar where dave chatted up the tender. He invited us back next weekend, and told us to bring some of our music to play over the speakers. I don’t think he knows what he’s getting into with my music… I bought a kick-ass hat for $45, and got compliments. SCORE.

Back in Konandai, we went to a bar from which Dave was removed some time ago. This is our second time back since then. Steve and I convinced Dave to go there last, last weekend. And the owner who kicked him out seemed really nice. I talked to him this time and learned his name is Ken. I also flirted like mad with the bus girl. She was really shy. Dave was pissed at me because he’d failed miserably when he tried to get her attention. So he c-blocked me the whole night. Except, since he’s a nice guy, he still translated my drunken lines.

Eventually, he got fed up and stormed off to another bar nearby. A few minutes later (1:10am or so) she had disappeared. I was finishing my drink and getting ready to leave, when this beautiful Japanese girl walked up behind me and asked if my name was Jason. I slurred out the English equivalent of “Where have I met you?” She then pointed behind the bar. I then blushed profusely. I didn’t recognize here without her hair back and smart uniform on. I made up some excuse about it and told her how pretty she was. She introduced herself as Aya, then shuffled backward out of the bar. Don’t get any ideas, because the end. But I know her now, and she’s totally bangin’. Dave’s a douche.

I went and met him at a bar we had hit a week earlier. The place was way too warm. But Dave had already started merriment with the bartenders and a couple patrons. I came in and totally stormed his parade by calling him a pussy and telling everybody how he wussed out all night. OWNED. The guys in there had a great time with the two angry, fighting Americans. But Dave did end up getting drunk enough to piss me off and make an ass of himself. What’s alcohol for!

Sunday evening, after a half-day of modest hangovers, we went to a local rock music group concert. It was boring and there were too many Asians there. HAH. Just kidding. But it WAS boring. Not worth the money and incredible amount of time to freaking get there and back. I was hoping to find a few music connections, but no one who worked there seemed to know anything about music other than it comes out of speakers like magic. Someone said to try Tower Record’s classifieds, which is what we did the next day. Or rather, what we would have done had those existed. I swear they were filming us the whole time and laughing.

Fie on that mess. I’ve given up word-of-mouth hunting, and am using the internet to find a band. Got some good leads. Might mean another move.

I should note that I’ve been sick as a panther ever since leaving Australia. Actually not really sick, just a whooping cough. Delicious. Last couple days saw me getting worse, with a sore throat/nose and whatnot. I’m much better suddenly, probably mostly thanks to the medicine cabinet my mom has sent me since I left the Americas.

I’ve also been buying stuff a lot, which I feel justified in doing since I finally got paid for my cray trip. Got a Nikon D40. And bought a suitcase. I freaking love that thing! It’s so much nicer than cramming everything into a soft-sided bag. I hope the compromise of versatility doesn’t bite me later.

Perhaps I’ll leave the apartment tomorrow. Then again… sunlight…