Backstreet's Back,

(Alright!)

After failing to play at the Concord Pavilion the last time I saw them some time ago before all five Backstreet Boys were reunited, the Backstreet Boys came to the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View and played a fantastic concert with Avril Lavigne as their opener.

It was like two hours of fantastic fangirling and sing-a-longs haha.

I was actually really surprised that I saw a decent range of people (though, lots of twenty-something people) including some girls who I'm pretty sure were like... eighteen or something. They were quite drunk and quite annoying ahahaha. But I mean honestly, they were an insignificant part of the evening. Cause ommfg, the Backstreet Boys performed again.

Their visuals were actually quite fantastic as well, lots of kind of.... electronic... and sunset scenes. It was a lot of fun I thought, since they played a TON of their older songs and only a few from their newest album.

They also mentioned that the band was like... 20 years old and that their first album was in 1995. Holy crap. I was 8 then. I don't even know what grade I was in then.

Let's play a fun game called "how old was I when I was in X grade"

2001-2005 high school
2000-2001: 8th grade; 13
1999-2000: 7th
1998-1999: 6th; 11

Fun fact, Now This is Music! (the original US one) came out in 1998 in the fall.
It had "As Long as you Love Me" by the Backstreet Boys on it, which came out in 1997 as a single. Also interestingly, it does not have any Christina or Brittany or N*SYNC on it. 

1997-1998: 5th; 10

Oh, also apparently - I just looked it up now - Oops! I Did it again didn't come out until 2000, which makes sense cause that's when my basketball team decided to make a dance routine to it, much to my past self's displeasure. Genie in a Bottle also didn't come out until 1999. Huh. Baby One More Time was 1998. Dang.

Hah. Wikipedia calls the Backstreet Boys an "American vocal harmony group." Really wiki? Just call them a boy band (even though they aren't really boys anymore, but really, that's what they are. They were doing the boy band style dancing tonight which was absolutely hiLARIOUS.)

Also apparently, the last time I went to see them was like... in 2010 or 20something before Kevin rejoined the group.

Since the majority of their fans are now presumably legal now, there was a bit of hip thrusting, bare chests and booty shaking by some of the backstreet boys. Be still, my heart. I mean, not that it's stopped other bands from doing that for their underaged fans, but it feels like the backstreet boys have matured with their fan base as well lol.

At the concert they mentioned that they debuted in 1995, but honestly the first album I can remember is in 1997. So I was like... in 4th or 5th grade and I was 9 or 10. Dang. That was a long time ago.

Anyways, I'd say enough with the reminiscing but the entire concert was basically one big trip down memory lane, with singing. It's kind of amazing how many lyrics I remember from their old songs. Like... seriously, I wish I had this good of a memory for Japanese vocab. Instead, I will just be able to sing all the songs from the Backstreet Boy's first US album haha.

Their concert was definitely awesome though. Would go again.

Spiders!

It has finally happened. Japan has broken me of my deep fear and extreme dislike of spiders (but not other insects). (Or maybe other insects a tiny bit).

There was a spider in the bathroom, and while they're actually kind of small (compared to Japanese spiders) (though by my old standards it was still kind of large for a spider, like at least as big as my thumbnail) I did something I never thought I'd do in a million years.

I was actually able to trap it under a cup (which got washed very thoroughly afterwards). I got as far as sliding a piece of paper underneath the cup, but when it came to actually removing it from the floor...

yeah, I kind of failed at that. Still haven't gotten over the whole idea of being able to feel the spider through the paper. Maybe if the paper I had used was a) not flimsy and b) thicker -- like cardboard or something, or poster paper -- maybe then I could have been able to actually pick it up and take it outside to set it free (and then run away screaming).

Instead I messaged a friend who happened to be home, and he was nice enough to come over and take the trapped spider and dump it outside. I felt kind of silly having gotten that far, but hey, progress is progress right...? I never would have been able to do that. The thought occurred to me after that I should have taken a picture, cause I'm pretty sure my family won't actually believe that I was able to do something like that without picture proof.

My nails are this kind of... gaudy almost blue color that reminds me of Sailor Mercury. They're sparkly and make me feel like I'm 15 or something. Also like thrusting my hand in the air and screaming "MERCURY STAR POWERRRRR"

Really though, they're that color so that I don't go on a stress-induced rage and destroy my nails completely since I've kind of done that in the past, especially when close to tests and stuff. I always cut them way too short. This was the only nail polish I had that (probably) looks okay by themselves. Everything else I have needs both a base color and then a topcoat color/shatter thing/sparkle thing/etc. So this was just the option that took the least amount of time. Anyways, enough about nails.

There are two posts I want to make in the future when I don't have a test the next day or things due. One of them is a short one on stickers. The other is on the crazy (awesome) weekend I had this last weekend in July (with a conspicuous lack of studying). But since I have a test tomorrow, that shall have to wait. But this is a mental promise to myself to actually write about those things when I have more time stop procrastinating start using my time more effectively.

Happy holidays and mexican fun!

Merry Christmas and Happy holidays!

I'm home for Christmas, but only for two more days. Then it's off to the Philippines for me, to visit one of my good friends from my study abroad. :D Hopefully I'll get the chance to update (I've been meaning to while I'm home, but yeah, we've seen how that goes... though, I do intend to get a new years post up!).

A quick word on Christmas in Japanland, since I spent last year there and did a bunch of Christmas lessons this year. I was really proud of my students; they all answered false to the question of "Do Americans eat Christmas Cake?" since that's one of the stereotypes/traditions in Japan. Christmas cake, and KFC. Last year everyone was really surprised that we actually did... neither.

I did manage to blow their minds with a couple of facts. Namely: a) Santa lives in the North Pole b) the red nose reindeer's name is Rudolph (the song in Japanese only sings about an anonymous red nosed reindeer) and c) Santa has 9 reindeer including Rudolph.

I think my new hobby is surprising Japanese people/blowing their minds ohohohoho. It's actually quite fun.

Today, one of my students made my morning when I logged in to facebook and found a happy christmas message. :) I was like, awwww. Yay. Warm fuzzy feelings.

Time to go stuff myself with breakfast casserole and glorious bacon and potatoes. OMMMMMMMMNNNNOOOMM. Real bacon! CRISPYYY.

Like usual, my uncle is very late and "breakfast" has turned into brunch since it's already 11 am. That's one of the traditions in my family; Christmas breakfast with the family at my parent's house. Usually (though not always) my mom and dad's siblings come over. This year is a little smaller, since we're missing two aunties and their spouses/families.

I guess I should go down and be like... social or something hahaha. Since this is what I came home for, after all! This and my friend's wedding. And driers. And Mexican food. OH. I should mention. While I was home, my family took me to Mi Pueblo, the Mexican supermarket. Oh my god. Mind = blown. IT'S AMAZING. THEY HAVE GIANT BARRELS OF HOT PEPPERS AND GUAVA AND ALL SORTS OF AMAZING THINGS AND THEY HAVE AGUA FRESCA THERE AND LIKE A HOT FOODS SECTION THAT MAKES BURRITOS AND TACOS AND ALL SORTS OF OTHER AMAZING MEXICAN FOODS AND IT'S LIKE SO FREAKING AMAZING BECAUSE I COULD PROBABLY LIVE THERE AND THEY EVEN HAVE AN OVEN SO I WOULD LIKE NEVER HAVE TO LEAVE THE PLACE CAUSE I COULD JUST COOK THERE AND I WOULD GET SO FREAKING FAT BECAUSE THEY ALSO HAVE A BAKERY SECTION AND THEY HAVE THIS AMAZING LOOKING FLAN AND TART AND I GUESS THEY HAVE OTHER THINGS TOO LIKE STRAWBERRY CROISSANTS BUT THEY LOOK MORE LIKE DANISHES AND THEN DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THE MEAT SECTION IT LOOKED AMAZING AND THEY HAD SAUSAGES AND CHORIZO AND THEN THEY HAD A WHOLE SALSA SECTION THAT GAVE YOU FREE SAMPLES AND IT WAS SO TASTY AND THEIR CHIPS ARE HELLA GOOD AND THEN WE FOUND TAPATIO FLAVORED DORITOS AND RUFFLES AND I WAS LIKE OMFG OMFG HAVE I REALLY FOUND HEAVEN BECAUSE DAMN THIS IS KINDA AMAZING BUT THEN I GOT DISTRACTED BY THE MEXICAN CANDIES AND THOSE WERE KINDA COOL BUT DID I MENTION THE SPICE SECTION AND HOW AWESOME IT IS AND HOW THEY SELL WHOLE CHILIS AND DRIED CHILIS AND OMFG THEY ACTUALLY SELL STALKS OF SUGAR CANE LIKE IN THE GROCERY MARKET JUST CHILLIN THERE NEXT TO THE GUAVA AND THE PEPPERS IN THE SHELLS AND STUFF JUST LIKE GIANT SUGAR CANES AND THEY ALSO SELL MASA AND THEIR TORTILLAS WERE GOOD AND OH GOD THE AL PASTOR STUFF WAS FREAKING AMAZING THOUGH IT SHAMES ME THAT I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS BEFORE IT WAS LIKE WUTTT IT'S PINEAPPLE MARINATED PORK OMFG TASTYYYY AND REAL AGUA FRESCA NOT JUST HORACHA AND JAMAICA AND TAMARIND BUT ALSO MELON AND STRAWBERRY AND IT WAS SO AMAZING AND OH GOD WHY HAVE I NOT GONE THIS PLACE BEFORE ESPECIALLY SINCE MY BROTHER SAID THERE WAS ONE IN SAN DIEGO CLEARLY I FAIL.

Haha, that was longer than I intended it to be.

TLDR; Mi Pueblo is a Mexican supermarket that's effin' amazing and kind of like my personal heaven.

Hope you have/had a fantastic christmas where ever you are!

Invisible

Yesterday I went to kibichuo cho with the two JETs there for a really nice thanksgiving dinner and general hanging out.

Kibichuo cho is beautiful and really quaint, though parts of it made me swear I was back in irvine and the lake forest area.  It made me do a double take ahaha.

Oh yeah, we had parfait too, earlier in the day, but it wasn't the huge one that I had been expecting. There were 14 of us so it was fiiiine and actually I was a little hungry afterwards since I hadn't eaten anything the whole day out of anticipation and forgetfulness.

After parfait though, one of my friends drove me back to kibichuo cho where we picked up her monk friend who doesn't really seem like a monk. He works and lives at the Buddhist temple... But he smokes, drinks, swears, and drives a Harley (and speaks really good English!). Cool, just not what you'd expect from a monk! He gave us a tour of his temple though and explained things about the inside.

It was wondrous. I geeked out so hard, since I had studied Chinese Buddhism in college. It was like oooohhh my gooood. Most of this stuff (he said) was the same as the Chinese version that had been imported so many ages ago. They had had some of the original sutras in a lacquered wooden box (is it redundant to say lacquered wooden?) and there were six that unfolded to reveal original Chinese script that was at least 700 years old.

700 years. Holy crap. That's really old. So it was kind of amazing, being able to see them. He also took us into the epitaph room, where they had the epitaphs of all the ancestors... Though he didn't mow ( or didn't say) how old they were. He said ancestors go in kind of forever and possibly these went to the beginning of time.

We also saw the calligraphy one of the calligraphy masters in china had written. They were really gorgeous. What else was there...

They had bodhisattva statues and the whole place smelled of incense. There were also small mukades crawling all over... That was kind of gross. But their slippers were amazing. They were the nicest slippers I've seen. They were green with gold patterns that were all swirly... and Chinese.

The tablet of the former ANA president was there too. He told us about how the president's house was in kibichuo and how he worked really hard at improving Chinese and japanese r elations after the war after an experience with his Chinese roommate. His Chinese roommate eventually went back to china hating Japan and Japanese because of how he was discriminated here in Japan. I can kinda understand a little.

But yeah. The temple was amazing. So amazing to go into and see.

After, we went to dinner after that at a really cute British themed place called the Bernese house. They made us thanksgiving dinner... And holy wow. It was amazing. We had a chowder soup, salad, walnut bread, and some of the best chicken I've had ever. Seriously, it was delicious. I'd take that over turkey any day. I think he tried to make it look a little like turkey; there was a piece of foil wrapped around a part that you could grab and pick up and eat like a savage haha.

The cook was ridiculously nice. Since he didn't know what a thanksgiving dinner was, he actually looked it up online and based the dinner around what he found (I guess, sadly, he found no mashed potatoes) :) He was from. Hokkaido. We had a fun talk about food afterwards. :)

Seriously though. Ridiculously good food.

Afterwards we went back and talked until eventually both of the guys left. Oh yeah, the monk also studied agriculture in salinas valley so he had been to places in California! But after they went back the really good talk started. Girl talk. We vented to each other hahaha. But we also talked about what it was like to be an Asian American and she talked about how it was hard to always be in the shadow of a fellow jet because their skin was white and they didn't look like Asian people. I don't get that too much - only when I hang out with some of my other friends. But the poor girl gets it all the time in the town, and sometimes people completely ignore her because they think she's Japanese or Chinese. I know how that feels, and to feel it all the time like that...

None of us (or well, most of us) come to Japan seeking attention, and it's not like we're saying we want lots of attention. It's not that. I actually prefer to not have much attention on me. But when you're standing next to someone with the same qualifications and everything else equal. (or maybe your Japanese isn't as good but you both still got hired, so nobody is 'better' than anyone else in that sense). The only difference is the color of your skin... not something you can so easily control. And they get showered in attention (some pr a lot of it unwanted) while you get mostly ignored because they make the assumption that you're Japanese or because you just don't look that foreign. I've been fortunate enough to where sometimes when I'm out with my friends and that happens sometimes I do get included... but sometimes I don't. And to have that happen all the time is taxing.

There are good aspects about being Asian too, don't get me wrong. My friends have all told me that it gets really annoying having people come up to you, or yell at you, or interrupt what you're doing to try and speak English, and I can understand that. I can understand that it's probably annoying to always be in the spotlight and stared at. But sometimes we get a little tired of being ignored and invisible. And yeah, I know the grass is always greener on the other side... But if it were you, would you rather be an invisible nobody, or a celebrity?

Hard call.

Festival Prep

I meant to take pictures of us doing beef teriyaki skewering here in Concord. Oops. I forgot. Or well, I was too busy actually skewering and catching up with people to pull out my camera. We must have skewered for ages though. 31 tubs of meat, and our beef teriyaki skewers aren't just meat like the Japanese gyuugushi/meat on sticks. We're, y'know, healthy. Kind of. Between each meat slice there's a green bell pepper. Totally healthy. Yep.

Actually, I should really bring this back to Japan since bell peppers are actually cheap, and if I just use the thin sliced beef it won't be too too expensive. Just need to make the teriyaki sauce and figure out the best way to make it - oh wait, I have a grill. Hopefully it won't explode into flames again. Like literally. The last time I used it, I got a couple of fireballs that blossomed from the grease that was falling down. Very pretty. Probably not safe.

But preparations for the Concord (California) Diablo Summer Festival, our Japanese-American summer obon festival, have been going on for the past week, so I've been popping in to help out in between running around taking care of business and seeing friends and stuff. Helped cut the bellpeppers. Sliced the shrimp. Skewered the beef teriyaki. Will probably be working tomorrow in beef teriyaki and inside at calligraphy. Just what I want to do right before I leave. Of course. It's fun though, working at festival and being part of the Japanese/Asian American community out here in the suburbs.

It's awesome though, because I get to go from one festival straight to another, since Matsuyama Odori will be happening when I arrive back in Takahashi. YAAAAAAAY.

I'm excited. I also have mixed feelings about going back though. I missed California a lot. I'm worried about my grandma. I missed my friends. I missed the food. I think I might be good on that front though. Maybe. But the weather here... is amazing. It's been cool, even cold in some places. I've been wearing jeans and a sweatshirt sometimes. Can you say heaven? So... I'm not looking forward to going back to the humidity. But it's Japan! And Takahashi! And bugs! I'm afraid to come back to my house lol. Mostly I'm terrified that the bugs have taken it over while I've been away. And that's actually a valid concern. I left it clean... but I'm paranoid I forgot something. And that the spiders will take over.

Takahashi has become home for me though. I have home in two places: Concord and Takahashi. This time around, it doesn't feel like I'm off to Japan on a grand adventure (even though, I am) but it feels kind of like I'm leaving one home for the other. I suppose that's a good thing. :)

I leave on Sunday morning though, at 11:30. gahhhhhh. I'm not packed at all (of course)! I have so much to do I don't know what I have to do before I leave. It's kind of ridiculous. I've also been scheming how I can get a deli sandwich from Genova - this amazing Italian deli near where I live that makes amazing sandwiches - to take with me on the plane. And what I'm going to do for 11 hours, since my laptop battery will definitely not last that long, nor will my soon-to-be-disconnected-iPhone.

iPhone. Smartphones. It was beautiful having you again. Perhaps I made a mistake in not waiting for you in Japan, but I regret nothing. Being connected somehow for not all my money was kind of important.

The past two weeks have been a complete whirlwind of activity, food, and friends. My trip has only reminded me of what amazing friends I have not only on both sides of the pacific, but also around the world, as everyone continues to scatter to the four winds. It's also reminded me that I'm old. I met up with one of my friends from elementary school (Elementary!), a couple middle school friends, college friends, Scholar Ship friends, basketball friends, and soon, I will be traveling back to my Japanland friends. I've been quite lucky indeed. Eventually, (maybe) there will be pictures. :) I keep saying that. Eventually it will come true... right?

Right?

*

City Kind Of Sort Of Nearish The Bay

I keep having these alternating moments of "oh my god I work and live in Japan" and "oh my god I'm in California" while I'm over here. Been pretty busy the past week or so since arriving, especially since I've been eating making my way down through California, and have had little to no internet access (or time) since last saturday.

Did you know California has at least two safaris in it? I didn't know that either. I knew about one - Wild Animal Park in San Diego, since it's affiliated with the San Diego Zoo. But the other one is up in the hills/boonies of Santa Rosa. Santa Rosa, who knew! I went up there with my family (it was the one weekend all five of us were in the same spot) and like, it's a legit animal park safari thing. There are no Lions, but there are a bunch of cheetahs, though not out in the safari area. There were pretty much two areas: the animals in the cages/habitat areas (they were pretty roomy) and the open area that the ranger people drove you through. That was really cool. That area had a bunch of giraffes and ohmireeeses antelope. Antelope? Gazelles? I think they were gazelles not antelope. ...things with four legs and horns and generally fast. Tons of different types. It was really cool to see. I'll eventually get pictures up.

There were also wildebeests. MUFASAAAAAAAAAAAAA. And zebra. Those were cool. And cows. They reminded me of oregon trail.

After that though, we drove down to the petaluma outlets (omg shopping for clothes that can actually FIT me), and had lunch with my grandma at this awesome dumpling place in Oakland chinatown. I think I could eat dumplings and rice for the rest of my life. Om nom. I missed Chinese food. Like hole in the wall kind of chinese food.

Lunch ended with us buying char siu bao (bbq pork buns) (baked) and then my brother and I headed off towards San Diego. From there it's been a crazy short five days of friends, mexican food, friends, beach, couch surfing, more food, more beach, and "jessica is not in a planning mood right now." And oh yeah. DISNEYLAAAAAAAAAAND. San Diego though, was perfect. Like, weather, beach, food, friends... perfection. Why did I leave? Oh yeah. To go to Japan. Which is epic in its own sense. But seriously. I love the beaches in San Diego. Also crashed at a friend's place in Irvine and got to see another old friend at the farmer's market in the morning before I drove back up to the bay. That was super nice.

One of my biggest fears, I suppose, is that I'm going to get back to where ever, or go visit where ever and nobody will be there because everyone has moved away. It's kind of happening now. My friends are scattering. But it's okay, I think. Despite scattering. We'll always be able to see each other and stuff, I suppose. It'll be fine.

I can't believe I'm vacationing in California and working in Japan. Duuude.

Eventually I will have pictures up! Hahaha.