Friends & Strangers

(Written April 28th, 2009, ~10pm)

I have had multiple people tell me that they miss me and want me to hurry back to the states. While my FRIENDS saying this is nice, when people I hardly know, or don't know at all, start saying this, it is weird.

For example, one person, like many do, asked how long my stay would be. After finding out, they said that we should hang out when I get back, if it is before a date, which is not even half my stay here. I do not know that person, never met them. I know OF the person, but only because she is...I guess, well known? At my home university, that is.

Now, to some people, this may sound wonderful, but this stranger messaging me, privately, and encouraging me to see her when I get back - trying to get me to come back early so she can see me, on top of it all - it is a bit odd.

I do not want to worry about returning to America yet. I have been here less than a month, and when my friends want to talk or find out about my stay, they can ask, read this blog, watch my videos, or even them saying that they miss me is fine. But when a stranger messages me and encourages me to return early, it is weird and creepy. Especially when this is something that I have wanted since I was a little kid, watching Godzilla destroy this country - Japan.

I am more worried about my night out with some people (Kendall, Take, and one other [her friend, Saaya]) Thursday, than I am about America and whether it will even still be around in a year (seeing as all I hear about is how it is falling apart). I am enjoying myself, and have offered my shelter to many friends, if they have the time and money to stay. The only snags I have found are people wanting to bring friends and/or family too. My apartment could not house more than two people. It seems as if they want more than I can offer - and rather than saying "that's ok," they want to push the envelope and see how badly I want to see them.

My offer is free shelter, TV, a fridge, microwave, toilet (western), tub, washer (you have to dry your clothes outside), and someone to help them find the best food nearby (Q!). It does not sound like much until you factor in a hotel in Japan being around $30 a night (capsule hotel) - American-style hotels being $70-$100 per night - and the fact that they can stay as long as they like, the only condition being that they will bathe daily.

So for ~$2,000, or ~¥200,000, they can buy a round trip ticket and stay for a couple of weeks (a month if they stretch it) - most of the money they bring being used for food. The more $$, the longer they can stay. Sure, they will have to sleep on the floor like I do, unless they are willing to buy a bed, but they would be in a different country. So many people claim to want to come, but when the price is reduced to the point that a college student could even do that. Hell, last year, I came for 2 weeks and it cost me ~$5,000. I had to squeeze my money pretty damn tight. So to me ~$2,000 sounds amazing.

So in conclusion, I do not have plans to return home anytime soon - but I do enjoy knowing that people miss me. And to my friends, my door is currently open if you are interested in visiting. I do not know how long it will be (exams are at the end of July, so I might need to close it for a month) - but I am sure we can work something out.