Hey hey, sorry it has been alwhile. School is in full swing and when they said 15-16 credits was a full load, they mean it. I only have 13 but thats still alot of work. The most interesting things are happening outside of school. Meeting new friends this girl Mia and Aomi and taking to people from class like this guy (I can't remember his name) who sits next to me in Asian Religions.

Then there are people in my New Media class. I don't know if I explained this class fully to anyone. It talks about eletronic media and live performance alot. And there is a budget fo how many shows we can go to and the school will cover. So far we've only picked on going to see Blue Man Group (a japanese Blue Man Group) and we all want to see ZED which is the Japanese Cirque Del Solei. We have a bunch of smaller (lower budget) performances we are going to as well. Most of them local which is good since I plan to base my theme on a class that has something to do with JAPANESE performances. It is very interesting and it is my 6-9 class. I was kind of nervous about a night class because that would require me to walk back to the Mansion from school every Wednesday night. Well I do anyway but there is someone from my dorm who is also in the class who walks back with me. His name is Beau Burrows and he has to be one of thee most interesting people I live with. He's a producer and he's on a label back in Denver. When I say producer I mean more like a DJ. He's a party man so if I ever want to go to a good club (which I STILL haven't been to here) he's my man.

Speaking of people who are my man (or at least are trying REALLY hard to be) there is Anayo the Nigerian who has gotten more desperate it seems. He met my roommate in the hallway and started talking to her. He asked her if she knew "Griffin". She said yes and that we are roommates. She gave him her cell number and said who could ONLY text because she doesn't have phone minutes. HE BLOWS up her phone almost every day(calling - not texting) asking to speak with "Griffin" and where I was and how long I would be gone. And when my roommate says I'm not there, he apparently sounds very sad and disappointed and HANGS UP on her. Wow - what a major diss. But anyway I haven't seen him and I think its annoying my roommate alittle bit because this African who isn't even calling for her is trying to use up her minutes to talk to me. I'd be pissed too.

And speaking of Africans (maybe its just me) but my roommate and I were walking through Akasaka (where we live) one night to go to dinner. And we usually see lots of cars parked to the side and personal drivers hanging around waiting for their bosses to come out of a bar or restaurant. Well this one man saw my roommate and I and had to flag us down. This GHANAIAN man almost followed us a block before I turned around (because my roommate really did not want to) and started to talk to him. I don't remember his name but I know he is he was so excited to see black women that he wanted to take us dancing and for drinks. My roommate says its me thats attracting them. I think its probably the hair (after all it WAS done by Africans) so who knows. This African ALSO has my roommates number, however he has not called. He is probably very busy driving around his Japanese boss (who we suspect is Yakuza-shhhhhhh).

Clara called me a few days ago to let me know that her brother, Dr. Karl Francis Stockhausen, had passed away after battling with melanoma cancer. Its been very hard because I would say I was close with him. He was only 28 years old and just finished medical school.

I was sad around the Mansion so my roommate has be buying me milk tea (haha i'll explain that later) and the other people have been getting me out of my bed in the middle of the night on a wednesday night/thursday morning to go to parks and drink STRONG japanese beer. Which, I must say can be pretty fun depending on who you're with. We then met this random guy who we thought was Japanese but turned out to be an American Army man. He had just gotten into Tokyo and didn't know what to do. So we took him to get beer and walk around and do Kareoke and then everyone (except me - I had class in the morning) went to the fish market where he paid like $200 for super fresh sushi sets. Why do I miss out on the good stuff? I have yet to have sushi here. Well, then again its not at the top of my list.

Thank you grandma and grandpa T for the bike money. I was going to purchase a bike at this once a month bike sale but bikes were gone way before I could get close to the door. Then again, bikes start at $60 so of course they would go fast. I'll just get a bike at Don Quixote (a retail store). I'll purchase it on Monday. Monday and Tueday are the Silver Holiday where you honor and show respect for the "aged"- more like Grandparents Day. So Great Grandma and Grandpa Griffin and Grandma and Grandpa T, I'm honoring you this upcoming Monday and Tuesday. Please stay healthy and happy and thank you for living this long (this is what you are suppose to say). You honor us with your presence and wisdom and it is our time to honor you.

I think my mom and dad and Mateen would fit into this catogory because its for people who have silver hair or hairs. HAHAHAHA.

Last night I had a few people over and we downed two bottles of wine and hung out and talked and it was a nice bonding moment. Today I'm doing homework, cleaning, going to a party tonight. And tomorrow I plan to go to Yasukuni Shrine which is the center of alot of controversy. My dad may like that I'm going. It is a place where you honor those who have died for the emporer or during times of war. It is the topic of much international news because they honor war criminals and kamikaze pilots. Many neighboring Asian nations feel that is adding salt to the wound because these people and their Kami, or spirits, are being honored and Japan refuses to apologize for it or anything they did in during times of war.

Well I hope you feel all caught up. Its been pretty quiet. Have any questions or want me to comment on something, drop me a message. Gotta go- SAYOONARA

ps. Milk tea is this drink here. Its basically non-flavored ice tea with milk mixed in and they sale it.......everywhere. Its alot of people's favorite thing to drink here. I believe it is an acquired taste. But it is quite delicious (its delicious = oishii desu).