Alec in Japan

Life in Japan through the eyes of Alec, a teenager on a working holiday gap year.
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17th Oct 2007

Sorry it’s been a while since my last update. I recently made the big move from Okinawa to Tokyo and of course made a video documenting the whole thing! I’ll let the video speak for itself. After the video are some photos.

Goodbye party in Okinawa Goodbye party in Okinawa Goodbye party in Okinawa Goodbye party in Okinawa Goodbye party in Okinawa
Last day of work Work goodbye party in Okinawa Work goodbye party in Okinawa Work goodbye party in Okinawa Work goodbye party in Okinawa
Last morning in Okinawa My goodbye party at the airport My pokemon plane The headrests on my pokemon plane The curtains on my pokemon plane
Street performer in Shinjuku My neighbourhood, Shinjuku The view from my apartment's roof My tiny bedroom My kitchen

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21 Comments »

Comment by Louis
18 Oct 07, 6.49pm

Well looks like you made it - sort of how I pictured it. That performer looks like he could be a homeless guy or someone who works off of tips, like some of the people I’ve seen in Boston, New York and San Francisco.

Looking forward to more - like the feature 1 on your phone.

Was it a sad depature from your friends in Okinawa and are they going to visit you there?

Peace,

Lou

Comment by Alec
18 Oct 07, 9.11pm

Yeah, he was an interesting character. He wasn’t collecting money for his performances (I made a mistake in calling him a ‘busker’) and he had a state-of-the-art mobile phone so he probably wasn’t homeless. Interesting, interesting. Maybe he’s a bored, retired millionaire.

To be honest, it wasn’t too sad. The people I’d met in Okinawa I’d only known for a few weeks/months and I was really looking forward to moving to Tokyo, which is what I’ve been wanting to do for years. I have one NZer friend from Okinawa visiting on the 2nd November, and a Japanese girl originally from Kanagawa is going to be returning home to visit so we’ll meet up for a bit when she’s here.

Thanks for the comment!

 
 
Comment by Yin
19 Oct 07, 2.42am

Tokyo looks amazing ^^. Japanese bob dylan was ALSO amazing.Shame we have none of those in London.

Looking forward to phone features. I’m curious as to what make is the Phone..(y)

Yin xx

Comment by Alec
19 Oct 07, 3.48am

Hehe, yes, Japanese Bob Dylan’s pretty cool. I’m sure there are those characters in London somewhere.

The phone is from Docomo but I can’t remember the make; it starts with ‘F’.

Thanks for the comment!

Comment by Yin
19 Oct 07, 4.24am

Yes, but they’re all buskers. XD So there is a difference.
F? Just looked it up, Is it Pantech PG-6200? (yes, google is my friend ^^)

yin x

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Comment by Alec
19 Oct 07, 1.49pm

Hehe, no it’s not. It’s the FOMA F904i and it’s made by Fujitsu. =)

 
 
 
 
Comment by Pouncy
17 Nov 07, 2.29am

I’m down in Yokosuka if you ever would like to see this part of Kanagawa!

Comment by Alec
17 Nov 07, 1.02pm

Lol, thanks, but I don’t know you. =S

 
 
Comment by Yin
22 Nov 07, 6.54am

no updates? how is life in tokyo so far?

Comment by Alec
22 Nov 07, 10.28am

Yeah, I know I’m bad for not updating recently. Life in Tokyo’s going great. I’ll try and post something soon. =) Thanks for the comment.

 
 
Comment by shundora
25 Nov 07, 10.53pm

Hi,I watched your all videos on You Tube! Because all are really funny and interesting!
And Im a bit surprised at your open-mind on the internet. Because i know you so well even if Im just a stranger. Of course I dont know about your details. Anyway thanks for your videos!
Im a japanese student of waseda univ in tokyo.
Im really envy of your gap year and enjoying that in another country.
I have to graduate from my school soon. So I wish I was like you!
Im really interested in your blog and videos.
please continue it!

bye

Comment by Alec
25 Nov 07, 11.31pm

Thanks for the comment Shundora! I’m really glad you like my videos and blog. =D I have a few Japanese friends studying at Waseda. Study hard and if you want to live overseas, do a working holiday in Canada or Australia or the UK or somewhere. I know it’s hard because you want a good job, but if you want to do it then you should! Thanks again for the comment. =)

 
 
Comment by shundora
26 Nov 07, 10.21pm

Thanks for your reply Alec! I’m really glad at your quick response!
I’m so interested in going to England. I like Britain pepole and the specific culture.
In my last spring vacation, I have plan to go to Bristol University that my friend is just for studying English! Also I want to go to London for sightseeing!

By the way, how did you know them of Waseda? Maybe you would meet them at clubs?

Shundora

Comment by Alec
27 Nov 07, 12.48am

Ah, Bristol’s a pretty town but London is the best! Hehe. I met one Waseda friend at a club, I work with one, and I did a fashion show with a Waseda girl. =)

Comment by shundora
28 Nov 07, 3.38am

Hi,I know London is the best city in Britain. Maybe London school is really good one. Probably you will go to the school??

Anyway enjoy the gap year in Tokyo!!

bye

shundora

ps I mede my account on Flickr(thats nice system). So please do my online first friend,if you can.

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Comment by Louis
10 Dec 07, 1.33am

Alec, it appears you are slacking - leaving your faithful viewers in the dark.
You are like one of those directors who creates a movie that is awesome and leads into a
potential sequel - the one that never comes.

Maybe my kids, kids will view this blog and tell me you’ve updated it. (Slacker)

Talk to you l8r m8.

Louis

Comment by Alec
10 Dec 07, 1.41pm

Lol, sorry! I’m glad there are people like you out there who are following my blog so I promise to upload something ASAP. I have footage so it’s just a matter of editing it and stuff. Really sorry but very flattered by your comment!

Thanks again and sorry!! (>_

 
 
Comment by Louis
17 Dec 07, 5.38am

Alec,
Well I had some time at work to go through all your photos from Japan and at the start of your venture in London. Not exactly sure what the Eisa Festival is - but I noticed that of the places you’ve visited in Japan - basically mirror the groups of people that were there. i.e. Okinawa (or was this just a coincidence?)

I enjoyed all the food photos - starting to make me hungry.

Not exactly sure on the timeline - though I see you’ve gone to many large cities in Japan.
Osaka, Tokyo, Naha, Saitama etc. Looks like you had a blast - how did you get to hang with the host families you visited, is there a web-site to sign up or you just showed up?

Looking forward to seeing more - ASAP as you’ve clearly stated.

Lou

Comment by Alec
17 Dec 07, 10.22am

The Eisa festival is an Okinawa dance/music festival which has come to London for a few years. I visited the festival and took part in a photography competition and it was just coincidental that I ended up in Okinawa a couple of years later.

Yeah, I’ve taken lots of photos of food, hehe. I like taking photos of food and I thought my mum would be interested in them, but she wasn’t espe cially.

For host families, I’ve only stayed with two. The first host family was arranged through my school and a studente exchange I did through them. I don’t have any photos of them on the internet though because that was fom abotu 5 years ago or something. The second host family was exchanged through the Queensland government after I won a Japanese competition. All the other families I’m shown staying with are either my relatives or families of friends. =)

Thanks again for the comment. Promise to update soon!
Alec

Comment by Louis
24 Dec 07, 10.29pm

Well let me be the first to say Merry Christmas to you. Hope your Tokyo adventures are endless, what is it you do now as an “arubaito” part-time work there?

You’ve mentioned Queensland (isn’t that Austrailia?), I tought you were from the U.K. - I could be mistaken.

We hope to host (not really host) but re-invite our friend from England as this will be the 2 year mark and he’s now 21 this time around. We can officially hit the pubs here in America (last time he wasn’t able to do much). KAMPAI!!!

Talk to you soon and regards,

Lou

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Comment by Alec
25 Dec 07, 12.36am

Yes, I am originally from the UK but I grew up overseas for around 11 years. That included 4 years in Queensland, Australia. =)

Have fun hitting the pubs! Though I have to say that it’s hard to beat a British country pub.

 
 
 
 
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