Today started out quite awesome- slept in half an hour later than i usually do, got up, had some toast, then hopped the train to shinjuku and harajuku. It was kind of interesting to see harajuku slowly come to life- most of the store don't open until 10 and i was there at about 20mins to, so i spent some time just people watching.

The place is pretty unique with some awesome store but I was surprised at how little I found. Besides a new necklac that I am in love with, a souvenir for someone back home, and that was it. None of the clothes, awesome though they were, really jumped out at me. I'll definitely be going back before I leave, but it kind of made me sad.

Then I made my way to campus for class at 1, nearly fell asleep listening to this old guy talk about japanese culture in such a way that it was evident he grew up in an area rife with polity and propaganda. such a thing of a generation long past was he. Then it was up to my last class for the day which ended after half an hour as I had to leave and was suddenly violently ill.

Let me just say, it is not fun to struggle to explain to the university staff that you were just very sick in one of the bathroom stalls in japanese.

very difficult.

and i also got to experience first hand the things i have only ever seen in japanese tv dramas: their urge to shove pills down your throat. As soon as I was taken to the office, i was given a choice of pill bottles, a thermometer, lots of water, several cold compresses, and was asked if i had to go to the hospital.

I always laughed when the people in dramas go to the hospital because they got the sniffles and a fever after standing in the rain for 20 mins. Is the japanese constitution really that weak?

So then they had another exchange student take me home where i immediately crawled into my bed and wished I was anywhere but in japan. preferably at home where i know people can watch over me and listen to my whining. Eating dinner was not something i would like to try again when i feel this bad.

Alas! And I had made plans to go to the tokyo dome after class today. And do i go to class tomorrow? Can i justify missing a class (i only have one class friday mornings) so early on in the semester? I have only been here for 8 days!

woof.