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| Pretty, right? Or maybe just tacky... |
It's not a new fashion choice, it's initiation week! Now, I haven't actually posted anything for a while. The reason being, that orientation to my study abroad university has been long and tiring. Also because I procrastinated. This is also the reason I haven't yet written and sent home the postcards I promised (sorry guys... soon! I promise!)
So last Thursday, I arrived in Japan. The flight was fine, except that there were too many good movies, so I didn't actually get any sleep. My first impression on returning to Japan was that, once again, I had underestimated the heat. I was wearing my winter coat, because it was too big to go in my suitcase, and it was a bit chilly in England. Not so here! And with a typhoon on the way, it was horribly muggy too. Still, I met the guy from the Netherlands who I had arranged to meet, and we started the journey to ICU. Heavy bags, a long journey, and humidity are not my favourite combination, but it was great being back in Japan. Eventually arrived, and went to my dorm, Global House. My dorm is a very international one, and has people from loads of different countries, which makes it, in my opinion, a very exciting place to live.
I was very surprised at how much like a home, or a family, Global House is. Dorms in England seem to be just a place to sleep, but Global House has pride in being Global House. They even have a football team (which won the tournament last year. The cup is displayed in the communal lounge) I guess its because in England, you are in a dorm, usually for only one year. Here, students will stay in the same dorm, though not the same room, for the full four years.
Anyways, the reason I am wearing fake nails, far too much tacky plastic jewellery and a tutu is because every time there are new students, a bunch of the dorms have initiation, where the new people have to dress up to a theme for the first week of class, then perform a dance or something on the last day. We, for some reason, rejected the theme of pajamas, or vikings vs pirates, and chose our theme to be two types of Japanese fashion, one for the guys, one for the girls. Ours is called 'gyaru', and whilst there are many types of gyaru, the main ideas include tacky, glittery, coloured hair, and really bright colours. Also tanned (or makeup darkened) face, white makeup round the eyes...you get the picture. Guys are being 'chara-o', which I have probably spelt horribly wrong, which is basically a cross between 'pretty boys' and hipsters.
A trip to Harajuku was definitely on the menu once the theme was decided. For those who don't know, Harajuku is the Camden of Tokyo. It is the fashion district, where all the alternative people go to shop, or just to walk around and show off their outfits. It's also the place I dream of having a shop selling my designs in one day...
Anyways, we weren't able to spend as long as we wanted there, as we had to get back for yet another meeting. I have to admit, by one week in, I am really meeting'd out. Although I ended up missing it anyways, as pretty much as soon as I got back to my room I felt really ill. I have indeed finally caught the Global House cold/sore throat. I think, especially amongst the girls, there are few who haven't caught it now. I also developed a headache, probably brought about due to my reverse insomnia, or whatever it's called when your body wake you up after five-six hours sleep every single morning... So, feeling really ill, I crashed. I woke up at about 10pm to realise that somehow, between the morning and waking up, my legs had been bitten so many times by mosquitoes.
I really, truly hate mosquitoes right now. I finally start wearing skirts again, and they make me regret my decision... foul play, little insects, foul play.
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