ahhhhh!! >_<

okay, so the title of this blog post isn't quite accurate for what's about to follow, but that's how i'm feeling (as of this moment). i've never felt more "manic-depressive" than in the time i've spent in japan so far. i'm either really happy or desperately wanting to get the hell out. it'd be nice to just be content/okay most of the time... too much to ask maybe? probably.

anyway, i've had A LOT of fun in the past several days with my friends, but i haven't been good about updating this week. i'll get around to blogging after i get back from fukui (NW of kyoto... i think) ~ for reaaals. no joke. i know i say "i'll update later" often, but spring break has been amazing so far && i want to make sure it gets "documented" somewhere outside my (imperfect) memory ^_^

in the meantime, here are some random pictures that will mean nothing....for now :)

the national pastime

drinking.

japanese people love to drink. being drunk at 4pm is nothing unusual (certainly not common, but not unusual). there's something called nomihodai in japan ~ all you can drink. it can sound like a horrible idea, but i don't think there's anything wrong with it if one knows where to draw the line. since drinking is an inherent part of socializing in this country, i wonder how japan compares to the united states in terms of alcohol abuse.

i guess this post will be more about my observations than anything else. things i see:

1. drunkenness in the afternoon. a few months ago, i was surprised to see drunken people on the subway when i was going home from classes. however, my friend informed me that it's not unusual. and i've seen this a couple more times since.
2. vomit on the streets. also not unusual late at night. i suppose it's cleaned up before morning.
3. people who often look nauseous in or around bars.
4. vending machines that sell alcohol ~ present everywhere.
5. middle-aged men with severe asian glows before it's even 8pm. 
6. salarymen passed out on the train. they usually take up two or three seats because their bodies are sprawled out. 

so what does this have to do with me? for one, i've had more alcohol in japan these last few months than i've had in my entire life. but with the exception of new year's eve, i've been responsible in terms of knowing my limits and when to stop. since the drinking age in japan is twenty, all my friends and i are legal. since this isn't the case in the united states, one would assume that we'd "take advantage" and drink as much as we can. for me anyway, this is far from the truth. it's nothing special anymore. being able to buy alcohol whenever we want has simply become a way of life. (furthermore, a night out at the bar can become quite costly.) 

if teenagers were to be taught how to drink responsibly, and if the drinking age were lowered to 18 in the united states, i wonder if there would be fewer deaths/incidents amongst college students relating to alcohol abuse...