Before I begin, I would like to preface this post with a couple of musical recommendations that will both enhance and complement the reading experience:
"Keeps Getting Better" by Christina Aguilera
"All Things (Just Keep Getting Better)" by Wildlife with Simone Denny
"What Could Be Better" by Lighthouse Family
You get the idea. And now it's storytime.
When we last left our hero, he was in the throes of preparation for the Japanese Language Program placement test and it's attendant antici................pation. After finishing his previous blog post, he went out into Ikebukuro on a mission - buy pencils so he could actually take the darn test. After picking up a three-pencil set and eraser, he returned home for a good night's sleep.
He was up with the sun, er, clouds the next morning and headed downstairs for a quick but sufficient breakfast. It took him a bit longer than expected, and before he knew it, he was toting his backpack and half running down the street towards the station. Thankfully, with his trusty Suica pass in wallet, he was able to skip the ticket machines and head straight through the turnstile up to the Yamanote counterclockwise platform (the Yamanote being a circular line with trains running both directions). All worries about quality of performance on the test were gone, replaced by worries of being able to perform on the test at all. Due to his various explorations of the Mita area with friends in search of cell phones, bank accounts, life, love, and the musical merit of the pursuit of happiness, he knew the quickest way to dart through to the area towards campus. His previous exploration of campus while waiting for said friends also served him well as he was able to find the right building and room immediately. With literally ten seconds to go before the test began and the doors locked, he entered the room and found his designated test-taking spot. Unfortunately for his friend Paul, seated directly behind him, the combined strain of almost missing the test and a heat-retaining backpack had given the back of our hero's shirt a very marsh-like quality, which remained for the better part of the first hour of the three-hour test. Still, they all persisted and finished the test, which ranged from very easy to unbelievably difficult questions in writing, listening, and reading comprehension. Years of various styles of test taking helped our hero out not only in giving him many strategies for how to answer different types of questions, but also reminding him that the purpose of this test was not to answer every question perfectly, but to accurately gauge where his abilities lay at the time. The last hour, the reading comprehension section, was particularly entertaining due to the fact that in the intermittent break between sections, one of the proctors knocked the clock off of the front stand, breaking it. As a result, the chalkboard became a constant reminder of the dwindling time remaining in this challenge. The last seconds were erased away, and the room let out a collective sigh of relief. Tests were collected, and the grateful students were glad to be rid of them.
The small detachment of students that had gone to purchase cell phones the previous day were once again reunited in order to return once more to the mobile purveyor located at the station, this time to cancel some of the options that were compulsory on the first day of purchase. However, a light lunch of donburi bowls was unanimously agreed to have taken first priority. Miraculously, this exchange took a grand total of two minutes per person, a great departure from the multi-hour slog of the previous two days. As our hero reminded the group, "well, at least we only have to do this once." Their mission accomplished, the group decided to go their separate ways for the afternoon for the sake of some much needed R&R. It was agreed that the group would meet again later that night for a much-deserved celebration of the ending of placement tests, initial orientations, and the opening of cell-phone and bank accounts. Our hero returned once again to the Yamanote line and had a very pleasant ride home and subsequent afternoon watching Pushing Daisies in his wonderful room. Before heading out, he cooked up a large dinner of curry rice, gyoza, inari, and tofu, well aware of what the evening's festivities would be and that it would be better to go in on a full stomach.
The group met once again at Tamachi station - a total of eleven students, including both Rice students and students from Germany, England, and Canada. One of the German students had been in Tokyo many times before and was designated to be the native tracker for the group. They all boarded the Yamanote line again, this time bound for the bright lights and many after-work meeting places in Ueno. Not surprisingly, as it was a busy night, there weren't too many of the izakayas (public houses) that currently had space for a group of eleven. Still, their search was not in vain, and they found a charming place that had a private room of just the right size for them. The people were very friendly and helpful, the food and drinks were delicious - ranging from Sapporo Black Label to Coca Cola to Lime Sour (which was incredibly tasty, even if it looked a bit radioactive), and a 2006 Bourgogne Pinot Noir. Our hero feasted on Tako (octopus) in accompaniment to his beverages, and there was general merriment, including several 'kanpai' and a rousing round of 'what's a drinking song that everybody from Germany, Canada, the US and England knows' that all lasted until closing time. The group returned to the station and bade each other good night and good luck. The next time of their meeting will be Tuesday for placement test results.
Now on his way home, our very happy hero stopped off for a can of iced coffee (for the morning, just in case) and a manga magazine. One flop into bed, and our hero was out.
The next morning (viz now), our hero awoke feeling refreshed and healthy. The iced coffee was unnecessary, but still very tasty along with his breakfast banana and piece of beef jerky. He decided to take an easy Sunday morning and spend his time again watching Pushing Daisies, sending e-mails to his friends and family's cell phones in the States (at least, those whose numbers he had handy, a grand total of 2), and writing this particular blog post. He also decided to let some more air into his room, and in the process discovered how spectacular his residential area is - he has an asian pear tree practically outside his door and the ability to open the long bank of windows out so wide that it almost feels like the wall is gone. He decided to close his blog post with pictures of his last discovery - the fact that he has the world's smallest balcony adjacent to his room, as well of some pictures of himself with his shiny new silver phone. He hopes that you enjoy them.
絶望した！
Mariko and I at 31 flavors.
An Autumn Special sundae cone at 31 flavors. 
A couple more selected photos from the Hatagaya festival.
One of the demo areas at TGS - each one was built to resemble the world of the game it was advertising - this one for Okami's DS port.
Basara is one of the biggest series over here right now - its imagery is everywhere. I even have Basara branded rice.
I think that says it all.
And of course, the obligatory 'girls and military equipment' photo.
One of these things is not like the other things...
These guys were smart - they bought out all the ad space at the train station in front of the convention center - interest sparked!
This one made me really happy - great game being ported to a newer system!
Another winner.
More from the Basara section - they actually had a historical exhibit of old Edo-period armor. Very cool.
My first bento - to be eaten at lunchtime tomorrow. I'm proud of myself for this one.
My bento box and chopstick compartment.
The front of my bento box.
The head of the Gundam that was until recently up in Odaiba. Unfortunately I was not able to get to see it before it was dismantled, but this is a good start, and word is that it will be reassembled, probably next summer.
