the death of a dino.

Breaking. It's a quiet thing.
swept into a sea of empty.


I feel like this blog at times resorts to gimmicks, and though I truly enjoy supplying everyone with lovely gifs and what I deem worthy anecdotes. Sometimes. I want to be serious with you.

I can't say that this post isn't a reflection or response to events of my life, because that would a complete denial of the truth.  And why not tell you a little bit of the truth? I believe I am in a minority on a certain view. Which is sad.
 How I view friendship. That's what I will write about today.

I think and believe Friends are forever.(I saw you roll your eyes!) Which seems to be an illogical assumption living in a climate like Korea where nothing is stable. I am the child who when she gave a friendship bracelet REALLY and truly believed in it. Seems to the cynical world a little like a fairytale. That we are crossing our fingers and wishing on some friendship star. And at times I feel the same.

Because sometimes you make friends out of pure need. I've done it. Sometimes you have to for the sake of your own sanity break or limit the time spent with certain people.  And when I encounter this....I feel so utterly WRONG. Even when I know a relationship is unhealthy, I cling.

So am I only wishing for something that is impossible?
no. We are made to be in relationship with one another. I view fights as fights but not endings. Problems can be worked through. I think that so many of the people I encounter have a different perspective. If we fight it's over? They seem to genuinely believe this. It's so different than how I operate.

I have a best friend. She is lovely. Even though I sometimes misuse her, she is my best friend for a reason. It's mutual, or we try our best to be. but even sometimes I take too much because I'm imperfect and at my core selfish.

I'm rambling all this off because I have some free time and this is actually an old and unfinished post.
So if you happen to think I'm talking about you. Silly billy. I probably am. lol. just kidding.

An unexpected Visitor....Meet Frank.

I called him "Frank"...this does not under any circumstances make him a pet. He was a plague, a disease,  an affliction, a personal tormentor, a living abomination,  much more than a nuisance, a symbol of the fall, and a nightmare inducer.

He was a huge, ninja-quick, Cockroach that I surrendered my kitchen to sometime last summer.


When I tell this story I expect you have your judgement prepared. That you think me a baby, a wimp, a pansy, and that I am wildly exaggerating the events that took place. To you I say calmly, "WHERE YOU THERE?! DID YOU WITNESS THE LIVING MOTHRA THAT ROAMED MY KITCHEN ! "

again....for the uncultured...


and No I know Mothra is not a cockroach, blog jerk...but if frank had a cousin! it would be him.

To CLARIFY FRANK is a cockroach....not a pet and not a moth.

ACT 1: THE DISCOVERY!
I walked in my kitchen on a typical night switched on the the light and saw something that made me do a double roundhouse flip out of my kitchen
. I slid the door shut with a firm slam, turned the light off again from the outside ( I was thinking "HIDE HIDE!")and DESPERATELY dialed my friends number. I think my phone has imprints from my abuse!
ME(screaming): MEAGAN!!!!!
Meagan: Faithy why are you breathing funny?
Me(cowering in the corner): Meagan there is the mother of all cockroaches on my kitchen cabinet!
Meagan: Faithy can you see him now?
Me(peaking through the glass door to get a visual): Nooo.....Meagan I'm scared.
Meagan(as talking to a child): Faithy you need to get a shoe.
Me (IN COMPLETE TERROR, mind spinning ): What do I do with this shoe??
Meagan: ....
Me: MEAGAN HE IS REALLY BIG! AND SCARY. HE MAY EAT ME!!!
Meagan(trying not to laugh): I know it is terrifying.
Me: Ok...ok...I'm going in.
I slowly opened the door to discover....NOTHING! Frank had vanished. I cautiously placed a toe in the kitchen...The phone was still adhered to my ear.
Meagan(alarmed at my silence): Faithy...
Me: He's not there.
Meagan: Aww good maybe he ran away...

IF ONLY.
I sighed and locked my kitchen after being talked down from searching for the invader.

Act 2: the HUNT "DEAR FRANK. Leave my apartment and die. love, faith."-facebook update

The first thing I did was CLEAN my entire kitchen. I mean dishes everywhere, and bleach. lots of bleach. I stocked up on traps. I prepared myself for war.

Frank would appear a the top of my cabinets finding himself a cozy crack to make a house. Sticking his antennae out in mockery of me.
I felt his pride. His joy in ruining the life of a civilian unaccustomed to fighting off monsters.
I couldn't reach him. I could only put traps and bait and wait. Oh the waiting....
There would be days when it seemed to be successful and then I would see him again. dashing under the microwave or slinking into the sink drain.

During this time...where I cooked and finished my meals quickly and throwing a white flag to FRANK to claim my apartment I posted updates on the turf war that consumed my life.

"Beyond frustrated....Frank must be a super bug  and you are probably just as annoyed as I am that this subject is still my status content. He moves to fast to kill and traps and raid doesn't work...good gravy. I'm at my wits end."

These statuses consumed my facebook for more than 2 weeks!
Causing many of you to CRY "USE A SLIPPER!"
 to which I responded...."NO REALLY?? and what happens when he takes my slipper and beats me with it!?" SERIOUSLY...no one had any idea what I was dealing with.

Frank was too FAST, TOO BIG FOR TRAPS....in fact my parents sent me traps to catch him with, and TOO SMART for bait...yeah. he was special. maybe governmental engineered. a tracking device for foreigners.

ACT 3: THE MADNESS ENDS- "Just sprayed bleach in Franks face."

When I finally had enough. I ended it. Frank decided to mock me once more and I took aim with a bleach bottle. Twice I hit him with the burning substance. He recoiled into his home. He had acquired 2 now. one at each end of the cabinet. It was like a very disgusting game of WACK A MOLE.




Again he went missing. And I watched with vigilance  Until Ina discovered him in the crack of my door  separating Frank from my living area and my bed.

Ina did what I was unable to do. And smashed him to pieces with her slipper. Now..Frank was barely moving, but I, having the fear of God set upon me dared not touch him.

I have seen no other Cockroach...but my fear has kept me alert and watchful.  Who knows what evil lurks in my kitchen, waiting to scare the living daily lights out of me.


Meet Frank...this is not him...but a much smaller version...the interwebs disappoint again.

I almost vomited in my search for a FRANK twin..
.and then had to be hospitalized for a period of time.

Someone had to make this...that someone was me.

Call Me "BOMB." And for the laymen...that means "joy"

"Teachah." I stare at the 1st year student who just waltzed into my summer camp. Literally waltzed, that is not a metaphor. I'm not being flowery. She spun and danced. 

"Yes?" 

"Call me Bomb" The 1st year student taps her chest proudly. "Bomb Teachah Bomb"

"Bomb?" I size the student up. She does not look like she is going to explode....but one can never be too sure. Her big smile with no hint of mischievous intent, her eyes framed by long thin glasses and her short black hair.

"BOMMMMB." she confirms with a nod of her head.

"Ok...why?" I cannot resist the question.

Bomb folds her hands across her chest and does her best to explain. "You know the Nut that falls from the tree?"

"err..."

"Nut from tree and Bomb." She puts her two hands together and makes a motion I'm all too familiar with. "Same."

"Chestnut?" I raise my eyebrows.

Bomb hops up on one leg and puts both hands in the air. "yeahhh teachah. I'm chestnut!"

Over the next few weeks Bomb quickly becomes my favorite student. Full of life and imagination, she runs into my Summer camp classroom and tries unsuccessfully to explain the story line to her favorite drama.  Her excitement makes me unable to stifle her. 

"Teachah....today....errr....yeaaaahhh....kiss." Bomb's eyes light up in excitement and she puts her two hands together to clap and bounces with gleeful embarrassment at the word "kiss".

"Oh really?" I say in mock surprise. 

"Yeaaaah teachah. Yeaaahh." Her face bubbles over with joy and she puts both of her hands over her eyes and giggles. 

I quickly discover "Yeaaah" is Bomb's favorite word.  Everything she tells me from the new glasses her sister bought her "Teachah my sister...Yeaaaah...bought them for me....yeaaaahh...good sister....yeaaahh." to her woes over spending time studying " Teachah....I study all weekend....yeaaahhh..." are full of the word.

 It is said as if she is a surfer, catching the perfect wave on a California beach. It's a lovely trait that I cannot help but smile at. 

She is a special student. Smart, and kind. 

She is the one student who no matter when she sees me it is like she has seen a present on Christmas morning. She bounds up to me, waves her hand and grabs mine.  She is the one who stands at the bottom of the stairs when she sees me at the top. Her smile practically wraps around her face as she shapes her hands into a heart at me and wiggles wildly.

To which I respond, "I love you too."

These words transform my lovely student into a lovelier ray of sunshine. Literally light pouring from her face, as she says uncertainly "Really?"

I nod and say "Of course."

Bomb jumps up and down and points to herself. "ME too. yeaaaaahhhh me too. you love...ooooooo" She spins around. 

I don't know why the word "Bomb" means chestnut in Korean. I think if I could change the definition I would. Joy is an appropriate word here. In fact, when choosing English names it is the name that "Bomb" unknowingly selected from my name box. Her spirit is one of those that I want to remain intact and untouched by the trials she will inevitably face as being a student in a rigid education system. 

She is one student I regret not staying for. I think about leaving her and know I will cry, because her heart is so beautiful.  

"Bomb" does not mean chestnut to me. It means "Joy" pure, lovely, giggling Joy.

"Bomb"

And in other news a Dolphin chewed on a small child...

You probably should rush over, read that article and skip this post entirely. NO wait don't go!!!
VALIDATE ME!!!

I think for the most part this blog comes off as a jovial poke at the strange land of kpop and kimichi...and psy....make it stop.

I intend to make you laugh. however. I have these reflective moments and you are now going to be on the receiving end. 

I came to Korea because I thought God told me to go. It's been this hard rocky thing I've done. I have moments where I literally think my sanity has left me. Where I feel like Rage faces are my only relief.

There is this mysterious idea called "culture shock." it is indeed a strange undefinable beast.
( I've talked to people recently who believe they haven't experienced it in Korea. and to you. I kindly say..false! or maybe you're a super high value of humanness.)
I will raise my hand! I experienced it.

And through that God has been so FAITHFUL. and has blessed this woman who ignores her creator so much of the time. I mean if you were to transcribe my thoughts you would be stunned...and alarmed. Maybe you'd ask..."How can she think of robot bunnies that much?"

But the truth is that God loves me. He gives me things I ask for even if I don't deserve them. And weird things too. Like answering a prayer to meet a j-pop idol to rescuing me from my bathroom. God is faithful. When I'm faithless. So what does that mean?

It means that instead of assuming that disaster is about to befall me and running away screaming.
I should assume that God has it under control.  I should assume that my prayers are effective  that God hears them, and answers them.

Then it follows... if my prayer to meet the idol could change into a prayer for his salvation, if my prayer to make it through the day could change into a prayer to demonstrate Christ. I might be surprised at the results.

These thoughts aren't funny. sorry. but that dolphin story is still available....should you need it.

Holy CATS! I'm glad I woke up.

For a few days I have been wracking my brain to think of something humorous to write. Dear me...my brain works terribly and in strange concentric rambling circles. (is that possible...)


Here is a snip it of my brains inner workings: ...Hugs, hugs,hugs...I hate that student..Japan...what is new in japan?....Holy CATS! why did I look up what is new in japan?....NEW JENNA MARBLES!...puppies! kitties!!! frowny CAT! lolllllcats....

allow me to introduce you to a major time waster...i.e. frowny cat.

Anyway. Luckily, I came up with a story of a true event that happened in my apartment about 2 weeks ago.  And it must start with a confession: sigh....here we go.

I AM A SLEEPWALKER.

The cabinet of Dr. Caligari....
sleepwalking in all it's terror

I know you are squinting your eyes in disbelief. You didn't know but don't feel down on yourself friend.  I too,  for a large portion of my life I lived obvious to these escapades of Nocturnal weirdness. (that reads oddly...but I'm not changing it  hmph!)
 If you did, bad for you, because it means I did something very strange around you during the period of time reserved for dreamland.


Previous events include but are not limited to:

1. walking down the hallway to stare at my brother while he is sleeping and leaving only after he has awoken to his creepy sister leering in the doorway.
2. Slumping in my roommates door frame to tell her that there is  a "ghost man" in my room.
3. Trying to escape the hotel room but being unable to because the chain is still on the door.
4. Hitting the side of the bunk-bed whilst angrily shouting, "Hey! HEY! HEY YOU!" While my roommate in fear for her life hid beneath the covers.

5. Switching a lamp on and off and declaring it defective.






So the event that unraveled in my apartment is a little hazy, misty and jumbled....but unfortunately it happened.


When I sleepwalk I can sometimes be partially be aware of events but have no control. intrigued??? ready for an opportunity to laugh at me and say "YOU're SOOOOO weird." well I'm a people pleaser so here you are.

Sometime during my sleep I became convinced, ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED that the following was true:

1st that I was on vacation in America
2nd I had to be back to Korea on Monday
3rd it was Sunday.

I awoke some time later to find the GLOWING SCREEN of my COMPUTER staring at me as I was sitting in an upright position. Which in half dream sleep, I closed and fell back into a foggy sleep.

I cannot remember my exact actions but I will conclude that the following had to happen.

So in complete, blind and entirely irrational panic I had, OPENED MY LAPTOP.
Entered my password. this takes some doing...I pride myself on my password strength. even I sometimes don't know it.






Loaded the internet page for EXPEDIA....and attempted to book a flight from AMERICA to KOREA.

It was during the destination page that I became confused as to what exactly I was doing and became a little lucid.

CUE the wake up.

Now. how fortunate it is that I could not figure out the internet enough to enter a credit card number. I mean SERIOUSLY. I don't think I was lucid enough to think of trip insurance. in which case there would have been a large charge on my credit card...that I would be weeping over for months to come. I am breathing a sigh of UTTER RELIEF!!!

this would have been me.

and there you go. I am a WEIRDO who likes trolling the airlines for flights in her sleep.

"Teachah. Why sad?"

So anyone who knows me knows I have an infinity to Asian. Did someone gasp??? You can see yourself off this post.

It was revealed recently that OMA(object of my affection) has been meeting with an older woman....now.before you get worked up... calm down. It's just one picture...or three connected...but really who is counting....errr. this girl


So When I discovered this paparazzi shot I moped, groaned, put my hands on my head and tried to reason myself from jumping off the ok fangirl ledge into complete crazyville.  It was a close call as I tittered on the edge of sanity.

I went to my class and could not shake my mope. I dragged myself into the room of my BEST class. (God's timing is lovely aint it?)
Arms practically scratching the floor. 

My students watched me with wide eyes. I barely managed the normal greeting before asking them to return the favor and ask about my life for once.

One played along.
"TEACHAH! how are you??"
"TERRIBLE!" I threw my head down on the teachers table and kept it there. My students GASPED in loud concerned shock.
"Teachah?" in worried tones "Why?"
"My idol crush...." I sighed, and they were hanging on my words. I barely picked my head up from the table. "Is dating another woman." I let my head hit the table again. (YES I WAS BEING DRAMATIC! sometimes it's fun to play with my kids this way....err. I was playing right???)


To which there was instant sympathetic groans and cheers of "Fighting teachah," "you're pretty teachah"

yes. thank you lovely student for making me feel better about my tendency to look like chewbucca.

I frowned extra deeply. "There are pictures."  I made the camera snapping sound and demonstrated with my hands.
This is when the student with the large eyes, cute bangs, a band aid she literally wears on her face everyday(this is a mystery I've encountered for 2 years), and a mischievous smile, leaned forward to SLAM her fist down on her desk.
"OH SHIT!" she moaned in complete and utter empathy.

Now I'm normally a together teachah. I can handle most tomfoolery. but that was too much for me in my emotional state.
I laughed with both hands over my mouth to contain my squeals and turned to the blackboard. It was unsuccessful  Of course my laughter led the rest of the class into chaos.
To which I had a class of 30 students repeating her phrase(LISTEN AND REPEAT Koreans are good at that)....not exactly English class appropriate. It was a chorus of "shits"

so Naturally I tried to look serious as I told her it was not a good word...but even that ended up looking like this....

Anyway...after regaining control. 

I finished the lesson and returned to my desk. To which I automatically turned on facebook.
This greeted me. And let the giggle fest continue forever.
underneath....
"Faith these are the real pictures" I've got some good friends and students eh?

James Bond...aka Creeping around

I'm a little ashamed to write this....Ashamed it took me so long! teeheee. take that to the bank.cash it in. Bam. money.

During our time in Japanland, Ina and myself decided that we would do the following, in a very James Bond manner (NO I DID NOT SEE your beloved SKYFALL, stop asking!) maybe it's better to name it after Boris and Natasha. (IF you don't know who they are....we are not friends.)

Our plan:
1. find Johnny's entertainment
2. sit outside and wait for Japanese Celebs to see us from the upstairs window, come outside and invite us in for sake. (maybe not sake...that's gross) I would take a soda...or koala bites...mmmmonononononon.

Koalllaaaaaaaa........

There is most likely some rule against this written in some obscure corner of the internet...e.g. a Japanese website. (I'm telling you what I don't know. helps me.)

Of course for our mission we were dressed in the most inconspicuous of manner....a bright pink
 t-shirt(myself) and a orange sweater(Ina).And the fact that we are the color of paper, helps us blend in considerably well. Well camouflaged indeedy.

We mapped out our route...aka got directions from the hostel manager..and headed out.  40 minutes later we had arrived at our "destination." 
Curious that we couldn't find it... 40 minutes, 8 consultations of different street maps, and  of course following random attractive men that seemed idol-esc (here this means perfect hair, white teeth and nice clothes) later we realized that we had turned the wrong direction out of the subway.


And at long last we came upon J& A entertainment....Behold it's.....

ERRRRRR glory????
This was the place that birthed the grand concerts that filled the tokyo dome???? This is where my OMA sat in meetings? INCONCEIVABLE !!!!! It was an unimpressive little building with a blue sign and several serious valets/drivers who appeared to have nothing better to do than to scowl at us and get in and out of their identical cars.

So you better understand our day....I made an accurate log. Read on read on.

Data entry Log: 10-1-2012 time: 11:55 am
1. Driver #1 parks his car, and disappears inside.

2. Errand boy runs to the drug store across the street. (HOW CAN I WORK IN THIS DRUG STORE????????? me want.)
3. Driver #1 exits and parks his car across the street (in front of us) scowls at us.
4. Errand boy emerges from the Drug store with 1 bottle of water. Disappears back into J &A entertainment.
5. Driver #2 parks his car, goes inside
6. Errand boy goes up the street for a jaunt and back into the Drug store.
7. Driver #2 moves his car across the street not forgetting to SCOWL at us.(we were most defo breaking rules)
8.Errand boy comes out of the Drug store with again only ONE SINGLE BOTTLE OF WATER.

This routine must have happened a dozen times within the (cough) 3 hours we sat across the street (yes we were afraid of the small men)
The weirdest part was(no not the 2 white girls drinking soda and staring at the entertainment company) that the  ERRAND boy only bought one bottle each time.

Ina and myself did finally give up on the greatest spy mission ever....and decided to (GASP) walk across the street and on the sidewalk in front of the actual entertainment co.

It was then that the ERRAND BOY appeared  possibly coming from the.... DRUG store...
Ina grasped my hand in excitement.
"I'm gonna say hi" she squealed.
oh dear. 
It is fortunate that my lovely friend Ina did not do her normal Japanland greeting, which had over the course of our trip developed into her doing little hops, waving her arms in a birdy fashion and saying a very slow "heeeeelllloooo"
(I love you friend. from the bottom of my heart.)


"Hellllllooooo!" Ina said as ERRAND boy passed.
ERRAND BOY could/would not be bothered with any formalities of politeness, and SCOWLED at INA (I think this is taught in training at J &A entertainment). And he must have practiced his frowny face in the mirror...truly a work of art.

Ina stared helplessly after ERRAND boy as his determined steps carried him farther away from her.(or to the drug store)
"Bye." she whispered in defeat.
Ina turned to give me  a big puppy dog frown. "That was mean."
Unable to contain myself I giggled and linked my arm in hers.  "He had important things to do."
"Like what?"
"Like buying another bottle of water....never occurred to him to buy more than one." 


ok I give in...
Boris and Natasha

At one point we did sneak around back to find yet another unexciting setting....

yeah.....J&A they live it up big!

That is a puppy...you should not sweep it.

I have a veritable collection of tales from the chronicles of "Sarah Hanka and Faith Taylor mayhem." IT never begun as mayhem or "carnage" (Hanka is flowery with the words...a British trait??) but always seemed to turn out as such.

I will provide the beginning of these tales....where did this duo find themselves in trouble? when did it start? maybe I can trace it back to a logical point...probably not.

Within the first month of Korean shinanagins (eg living in this foreign Asian country) Sarah and myself tried to have a meal. For those taking notes: TRIED is the key word here.

It was our first experience. and we decided on the exploration of Seomyeon. Lemme see if I can explain Seomyeon to the clueless. It is the center of Busan and for the first timer it is a maze of shops, Angel-in-us coffee shops, restaurants with no discernible difference, and did I mention coffee shops? Yeah Korea is caffeinated....a little too caffeinated if you ask me...

Well on our walk: conversation began. The first of many...

"what are you looking to eat mate?"

"food" I said looking at the street surrounding me in confusion. Were people actually selling giant teddy bears as key chains? wouldn't that cause undo hand muscle strain when opening a door? These are the kind of thoughts I think. Scary isn't it?

"well they seem to have that..." Sarah trailed off.I turned in her direction, just in time to see the man in the  Clown mask.


A man with flyers for a "restaurant,"(I put quotes here because I didn't dare venture in) had stepped in our path. His suit glistened in the street light(shiny...) and from his Clown mask a cigarette hung out the mouth opening. I doubled back in terror.

The clown mask wasn't the friendly kind. We aren't talking Bozo. We are talking "IT" tourture clown style.

As I leaned back into Sarah I whispered, "WHAT kind of Marketing technique would you call that?"
truly...I don't remember if I said those exact words, but I most certainly thought them.

I remember him standing in the street light trying to hand me a flyer, my eyes popping out at the very idea. My thoughts circled....Who would follow him to whatever resturant he was serving...why was he dressed like that? It wasn't even close to halloween. What is this strange land called "Korea?" Why is he still leaning forward? Is he trying to scare me into entering his establishment? (I will NOT be bullied.) Why are they selling giant teddy bears as key chains??

There seemed to be no forthcoming revelation. No parting in the clouds. And still now a year later...I feel just as confused as I was on that night.

Questions, Korea....nothing but questions.

So we skipped around him, half running away....laughing to relieve the stress. And found a place to eat...
where we haphazardly pointed at the menu in a whimsical guessing game...and were served..."dinner" Again the quotes.

We were served... the following: 
a glass bowl with ice, decorated with a scant number of peaches and sliced tomatoes.
silk worms
and Kimchi jiage.
total cost: around $20.


beautiful aren't they???

On our way to the second dinner of the evening( Felt a little like a hobbit. )...we were met with a display of animal hawking. (hawking here means selling)

Tiny puppies shivered in the March wind, as a sleepy unemphatic vendor stared after them. Sarah and I stared at the dogs. (Hanka is a big fan and has told me on many occasion that she would rather spend time with a canine than a human. She once compared me to the furry creatures claiming she liked me "as much as" a dog. This is a true Hanka compliment)

After awing at the dogs we heard a scraping sound behind us.

"What is she doing?" Sarah asked.

I turned and saw another woman with a large broom in hand. She was carelessly sweeping the road of litter. At this very moment one of the puppies bounded in her path. Surely, she'd stop her sweeping, or deter her course...No that would be logical. And that was our first mistake. Never assume logic exists.

She proceeded to sweep the puppy along with paper flyers and other litter. The puppy half ran, half tumbled along as being unable to avoid the power of the broom.

Sarah and I turned away in shock.

"Faith, she swept the puppy." Sarah whispered.

"I don't understand." 

"No where in any civilized society do they sweep canines." Sarah contiuned. "That is a puppy. you should not sweep it."

WATCHING ANTS masquerading to be a Jpop group.(I'm onto you.)

First, let me start by explaining the trouble I went through to go to Japanland for a concert. A CONCERT....

I experienced a plane ride the day of the concert from my domicile

 Ran through the tokyo metro....(HAVE YOU SEEN THAT MESS? cause it is one), checked into my hostel, and navigated to the Tokyo Dome. OH GLORY. If you have never been to the Tokyo Dome I will be supplying pictures so you understand the pandemonium experienced there within. IT IS PANDEMONIUM. 

Ok so imagine 50,000 JPOP fans(I FEEL YOUR JUDGEMENT!)  

milling around the outside of this stadium. Imagine 3 white girls wide-eyed in disbelief and pure rapture at being ad-mist fans who love the same people we do. 

We were memorized, amazed and awed at the paraphernalia everywhere. AND I MEAN EVERYWHERE.
"Did you see them?" I whispered to my friend, gesturing to some girls cos-playing as Kat-tun(you with the confused look, let me help you out cos-playing means dressing up as) .

 (I realized at that moment I am not hardcore. If that was you, I'm SLOW CLAPPING FOR YOU RIGHT NOW....)

We checked out the merch. tent. And let me tell you that in itself is an experience.

Imagine a line, longer than your life, being PATROLLED by security. Who will not let you. 1. take pictures of the dome. STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING..

They are very orderly and after you snake your way through the line to the tents, you can purchase your goods. But here is what happens. PANIC.

I have no idea why, but all of the sudden my friends and I found us under the compulsion to buy EVERYTHING.  I was feverish. "kame poster...poster...poster... key chain... bag...book... photos,..... wait...where did my money go???"

And I felt like I had TO HURRY....or I would possibly die/they would sell out (that's the same thing right?). Not considering that they had mountains of the stuff.   I was like a Zombie thinking one thing "BRAINS....BRAINS...."


YOU MAY NOW ENTER

Upon entering the Tokyo Dome, which is only about the size of the sun.

My friends and I attempted to find our seats. I say "attempted," because I am the stupid foreigner. I am not offended by this. It's true.

We gazed at our tickets....GATE 40.....row 65....I was previously prepared that we were high up. I knew it before the cute Usher spotted us and told me "WAIT WAIT" (yes adorable man, I will wait for you.)

Cutie Pie Usher however felt it necessary to count every row until our seat. I kid you not. "1 to 65." It went like this:

"row 1....(shakes head) no..."
"row 2....(shakes head) no..."
"row 3....(shakes head) no..."
....
"row 64....(shakes head) no."

To finally arrive at row 65, where there is no oxygen. 

Now I am not complaining...but some other people could have been down there for all I know....If It were me, I would totally sit back stage and back my orders to have someone else run around in my costume pretending to be me...yeah I'm a nice person.

 




But I still HAD A BLAST....and loved it. So gloorrry be.

a replay of my excitement (ask me about this sometime.)



The Mc was long of course, and my Japanese limited to "Cool" and "do your best" meant I took my cues from the audience...laughing along where they laughed...nodding when they 
nodded and so on.

 I did A heck of A LOT of AWKWARD laughing...perhaps you are familiar ...especially at English words....MONKEY SEE....MONKEY DO.

      Encore 1 It's never REALLY over now is it?

       5 large Chain ballons complete with smiles were unleashed  Where they hid them was a mystery to me. Hmmm....I must find this out.

A VERY large inflatable chain was “tied” to each and below the 5 balloons hung a basket with a member in each. 



 Part of it deflated, and I sense… someone was FIRED.  And should it fall on you......



And of course it ended as everything does....and I cried my tears and managed to bend my posters on my way out of the Dome. 

I'm still weeping.