Before I start the blog for today I would like to classify the anti-American sentiments, which I had mentioned earlier and meant to clarify in yesterday’s blog. So, the only negative sentiments regarding America I have seen here are anti American MILITARY sentiments (there is a huge debate going on about whether America should be allowed to have Ospreys, very high-tech war helicopters, at Okinawan bases. Okinawans really do not want it, because even though America guarantees it is safe, it has had a lot of accidents.

So, now onto my day. I went to Church with Okaasan and Otousan this morning, which was very nice. Okaasan was helping to make lunch today do we stayed for that and she made a special vegetarian Udon (I am 99% sure it was Udon, not Soba) for me. Anyway, then I returned home and then headed to McDonalds, where I was meeting my friends to go to Karaoke.

So, probably because in America only Karaoke Bars exist, my vision of Karaoke was (of course not a bar) a large room with a stage and dance lights and people crowded together and a line of people waiting to get on the stage to sing; a similar atmosphere to a rock concert, the event after the Undoukai I had described earlier, and/or a high scho dance. Boy, was I wrong! So, the Karaoke place we went to had about twenty rooms, each a bit smaller than a college dorm room, with a karaoke machine, TV screen, and hand-held touch-screen devices that allowed you to pick songs and such. Since we were ten people, we split up amongst two rooms — the cost was 550 yen, only $7, per person, and we ended up using the room for 5 hours! And we got unlimited drinks! Anyway, after one of up filled out a form and gave them something valuable, the lady gave us our microphones and glasses for drinks, and we went to our rooms.

BTW, about the unlimited drinks, they had a huge variety! Hot Chocolate, which I drank a lot of, Green Tea, Icees, various Cokes and Sodas, etc. I was amazed that it was all so cheap!

Anyway, over the course I sang all the Japanese songs I knew, and many American songs such as Imagine(VERY popular in Japan — after my visit to the Peace Memorial I can definitely see why), The Sounds of Silence, Viva La Vida, Rolling In The Deep, etc. I also sang some Japanese songs I had heard before but did not exactly know, together with a friend (unlike what I had though, we were not with a bunch of strangers but in our own room.). It was really really fun, and surprisingly not embarrassing at all! I really loved it!

Anyway, we were switching between both rooms, and suddenly the lady came and told us we were not allowed to do that, and since we had we had to pay for ten people in each room, namely double the price (which was still quite cheap.). Anyway at first we spent a long time discussing (which I did not really understand) and then one of my friends went and argued with the lady since we honestly had no idea and they had not given us a warning or anything…I had really wanted to do that but couldn’t because of my limited language skills — had it been the US though I am pretty sure I would have argued with the lady and probably ended up either walking out or paying the extra price and then never coming back there again. Anywsy, however, he argued with here and finally she agreed to go back to the regular price.

BTW, I was impressed at the various age groups that were in various karaoke rooms (I did not go in, of course, but saw them from the hallways.). There were elderly people, families, and other high school/college kids like us. Apparently on average the Japanese go to Karaoke once a week, according to my friends, but since Kokusai Koukou is apparently a very hard high school they do not go very often.

Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed myself there and then walked home part-way with a group of friends and part-way by myself, at 8:00, after the sun had set. Even though it was completely safe, I still walked faster than usual and avoided the park I usually go through — however I was surprised by the number of people out a d about at that time!

Okay, I think that is all for now, goodnight!