I've been busy. With a lot of stuff, some good, some bad. Admitedly, at one point during these last two weeks I found myself counting the days left at Tokyo University while wanting nothing more than to hide in my bed until all my work would magically disappear. My combined obligations to do reasearch for the lab, completing a full set of courses for NTNU, while trying to learn Japanese as well as being sort of in-training at the embassy and having social obligations on the side, was really seriously starting to take it's toll on me.
Short version is that I solved most my problems by finally talking to my professor. He is a remarkably kind man, and together we managed to hammer together a set of priorities that I think I'll be better able to handle. I also took a day off to gather my thoughts and get my heart rate back under control, and now I'm feeling a whole lot better about my final month at Todai.
I'm also feeling exeptionally inspired to do some real work to improve the situation for future exchange students here, because with just a few simple mechanisms in place a lot of the stress I just went through could have been very neatly avoided.
I juuuuuuust managed to get out of my funk in time for last weekend, and I am very much glad I did. Because this weekend (extended weekend, actually) was busy. Like, stupid busy. Busy in a way I don't really think I've ever been before.
I have not been very good at taking pictures lately, so I'll have to use my words. Sorry 'bout that.
It all started on Thursday, when I went sake tasting with five other students from my lab and my professor. Thankfully, we had just cleared the air, so the mood was excellent and all in all it was extraordinarily enjoyable.
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Sushi, sake, and everybody spoke English for my sake (no, not 酒 sake. This is not a pun. I repeat, no pun was here intended. )
Tried sea urchin for the first time.
It tasted like an urchin. From the sea.
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| The yellowy stuff on the bottom right is the 'urchin. It was actually more or less amazing, and I totally get now why the contestants on Masterchef never get it right. |
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| I could not not try it! |
I only photographed the first three bottles. There were two more. Good sake is good!
According to Japanese tradition, when seniors invites juniors out, the senior will pay. Which means my professor took the bill for the whole party. This felt really strange to me, but I showed gratitude like the others and accepted without further comment. It's not like I didn't want free deliciousness, but still...
Friday arrived and I showed up to school at 8:50 for morning Japanese class, after which I did some very quick work and effective work on my project before going to my weekly face-to-face meeting with my professor. I actually had results! Halle-whoopin-lujah!
And in the evening I went home and had a quiet time with a good book.
Haha no.
I went to the Norwegian Chamber of Commerce in Japan Annual Midsummer Evening Shrimp Party. Ohyes. Innovation Norway invited me. They payed for me, too.
So after my meeting, I whisked myself home to prettify real quick before whisking myself to the embassy once more.
Sidenote: apparently, this was the most efficient quick-prettification I ever did, as I got more compliments this night than eveer and was even approched by a "model scout" on Shibuya station. He didn't seem even slightly legit, but still yo!
I have to appologize for the sad lack of pictures from this event.
There was shrimp, of course. But also wine. And aquavit.
And I learned that my future bosses at Innovation Norway are fun people who have been in Japan long enough that they do not accept my glass being empty.
I was, of course, having far too much fun to go home when the party ended. So I went on to join a Naschpiel in one of the embassy apartments overlooking the pool, where there was more wine, aquavit, and decreasingly intelligent conversation.
Eventually, the party moved out and I joined hoping that Karaoke would happen (I always hope that!).
Instead, we ended up at a pool bar with soccer. Goddamn I wish the bloody world cup would just end already. I want people to be interested in interesting things again!
I stayed for some good conversation, took a quick selfie in a mirror and caught a cab home.
Saturday was calm and headachy. I do not want to talk about Saturday.
Sunday dawned bright and cheerful, and I had a BLAST FROM THE PAST!
Rakel, whom you might remember from events such as this or this, was in town and it was really really super nice to see her again.
I took her to Shimokitazawa, my favourite quaint little second-hand-shop neighbourhood, and then to Harajuku for its pink-sugar-fluff-acid-experience.
I had to leave her for a while to get officially elected as a member of the ... what the crap is "styremedlem" in English? I actually have no idea. I'm gonna be part of making things happen. For ANSA (Association of Norwegian Students Abroad) Japan. Starting from a while ago, but now it's like, official and stuff. Whatever.
We had a picnic. I brought Rakel.
I said: I have been drinking a lot lately. No more drinking now.
I lied.
Goddamnit I have no self control!
And we stayed out after 12 which means all night which means until 5 in the morning I got home at 6:30 why God why do I keep doing this to myself?!?
Just kidding. I had the best time ever. It was really seriously awsome.
I even got a picture of Thomas singing. He never sings!
And now it's Monday, yeah? Weekend over?
NOPE!
I didn't go to my morning class (wonder why...) and spent the day making a presentation in Japanese about Pokemon because they said choose any theme so I chose the VERY BEST LIKE NOTHING EVER WAS!
But would you know, there was another event in the afterneevning. I had to prettify (again) to a state of business-casual and go (maybe sort of slightly feeling the effects of little to no sleep combined with a long night of all you can drink and a whole lot of shout... "singing") once again to the embassy.
This time, for a seminar-like event labelled "Communicating Science", held in conjunction with an official visit to Japan by the Norwegian Deputy Minister of Education and Research, Bjørn Haugstad. By the way, this is the fourth official visit by a Norwegian Government official-type only this year. It's great to see that the government still maintains a strong interest in Norway-Japan relations, even after the election.
They had invited as many Norwegian students as they ("we", actually. I helped.) could reach. I was not the only one from the all-nighter, and I was pleased to see that I was not the only one still feeling the effects a bit...
The seminar was very interesting, relating as it did to themes that I really want to work with in my traineeship in Tokyo and possibly later in life as well. I particularly enjoyed the contribution of Prof. Hitoshi Murayama, who gave an excellent example of how difficult subjects (in this case, Cosmology), can be presented in a way that can be enjoyed by any audience regardless of science background.
But after the talks and ensuing Q&A, what happened? Networking. With food. And more alcohol.
This time, I really did manage to limit my intake.
And in the evening I went home and had a quiet time with a good book.
Haha no.
I went to the Norwegian Chamber of Commerce in Japan Annual Midsummer Evening Shrimp Party. Ohyes. Innovation Norway invited me. They payed for me, too.
So after my meeting, I whisked myself home to prettify real quick before whisking myself to the embassy once more.
Sidenote: apparently, this was the most efficient quick-prettification I ever did, as I got more compliments this night than eveer and was even approched by a "model scout" on Shibuya station. He didn't seem even slightly legit, but still yo!
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| Shrimp. And motherfucking rye bread. Colour me happy! |
There was shrimp, of course. But also wine. And aquavit.
And I learned that my future bosses at Innovation Norway are fun people who have been in Japan long enough that they do not accept my glass being empty.
 |
| YAAAY WAAFFFLEEES! |
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| I live for these moments! |
I was, of course, having far too much fun to go home when the party ended. So I went on to join a Naschpiel in one of the embassy apartments overlooking the pool, where there was more wine, aquavit, and decreasingly intelligent conversation.
Eventually, the party moved out and I joined hoping that Karaoke would happen (I always hope that!).
Instead, we ended up at a pool bar with soccer. Goddamn I wish the bloody world cup would just end already. I want people to be interested in interesting things again!
 |
| Not my favourite kind of pool. |
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| The only fun part of football is watching men touch each other. And there are way better sports for that. |
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| I... look... like an adult. WAT! |
I stayed for some good conversation, took a quick selfie in a mirror and caught a cab home.
Saturday was calm and headachy. I do not want to talk about Saturday.
Sunday dawned bright and cheerful, and I had a BLAST FROM THE PAST!
 |
| HISASHIBURI! |
I took her to Shimokitazawa, my favourite quaint little second-hand-shop neighbourhood, and then to Harajuku for its pink-sugar-fluff-acid-experience.
I had to leave her for a while to get officially elected as a member of the ... what the crap is "styremedlem" in English? I actually have no idea. I'm gonna be part of making things happen. For ANSA (Association of Norwegian Students Abroad) Japan. Starting from a while ago, but now it's like, official and stuff. Whatever.
We had a picnic. I brought Rakel.
I said: I have been drinking a lot lately. No more drinking now.
I lied.
Goddamnit I have no self control!
 |
| kuhruhOHkeEH! |
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| #90's kidzzz |
And we stayed out after 12 which means all night which means until 5 in the morning I got home at 6:30 why God why do I keep doing this to myself?!?
Just kidding. I had the best time ever. It was really seriously awsome.
I even got a picture of Thomas singing. He never sings!
 |
| "What the hell am I doing?" |
And now it's Monday, yeah? Weekend over?
NOPE!
I didn't go to my morning class (wonder why...) and spent the day making a presentation in Japanese about Pokemon because they said choose any theme so I chose the VERY BEST LIKE NOTHING EVER WAS!
But would you know, there was another event in the afterneevning. I had to prettify (again) to a state of business-casual and go (maybe sort of slightly feeling the effects of little to no sleep combined with a long night of all you can drink and a whole lot of shout... "singing") once again to the embassy.
This time, for a seminar-like event labelled "Communicating Science", held in conjunction with an official visit to Japan by the Norwegian Deputy Minister of Education and Research, Bjørn Haugstad. By the way, this is the fourth official visit by a Norwegian Government official-type only this year. It's great to see that the government still maintains a strong interest in Norway-Japan relations, even after the election.
They had invited as many Norwegian students as they ("we", actually. I helped.) could reach. I was not the only one from the all-nighter, and I was pleased to see that I was not the only one still feeling the effects a bit...
The seminar was very interesting, relating as it did to themes that I really want to work with in my traineeship in Tokyo and possibly later in life as well. I particularly enjoyed the contribution of Prof. Hitoshi Murayama, who gave an excellent example of how difficult subjects (in this case, Cosmology), can be presented in a way that can be enjoyed by any audience regardless of science background.
 |
| Prof. Murayama has a real gift for engaging the audience. |
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| Question with answer. |
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| "What does it take to make a fabolous scientific discovery?" |
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| I wish my lectures would include Darth Wader more often. |
But after the talks and ensuing Q&A, what happened? Networking. With food. And more alcohol.
This time, I really did manage to limit my intake.
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