Random things regarding living alone/in Japan/Shimonoseki

So for the past few months I've been living by myself doing the exchange student thing and there are just some things I've noticed about what happens when I'm left to my own devices and just other things that make me laugh. The first obvious one being I try to avoid doing work as much as possible which becomes increasingly harder if you have to do all your own cooking, cleaning and washing.

Cooked my own lunch today... surprise!
小松菜人参炒め (Komatsuna carrot stir-fry)

Before I had my 'spring' cleaning I had about a months worth of dirty washing piled up against the window... I thought... can't see the floor maybe I should whip out the vacuum.

One good thing that's come out of living by myself is a general improvement in my cooking ability. I'm by no means a chef, but I can now make food that doesn't have instructions like 'just add water' on it. On the other hand I like to muck around so last time I was cooking eggs I thought it would be a good idea to attempt to juggle them and one ended up in my shower. Needless to say I cleaned it... eventually.



Also, one of the things I'm still not used to is how damn cold it is.
It's sunny outside and yet my breath is steaming inside. Usually it's after I eat hot food though, but it still steams for about 10 minutes after that so it is pretty damn cold. But that's why I wear at least 3 layers of clothing before leaving the house and a mininum of two inside the house >.< Although what really made me laugh the other night was when I went to the toilet and my urine was steaming. I know it's a bit gross but I couldn't stop laughing so I wrote a note to blog about it on my whiteboard 'steam pee blog'. No lights on and I could see hot steam coming off my pee. It's the little things in the life.

Lastly I'd like to talk about vending machines, which is the non-sequitur for 'life in Japan'. I'll open with a picture of one of the most ghetto vending machines I could find which is was at probably the seediest hotel we stayed at. John thinks he got scabies.

Undoubtedly my Dad's favourite vending machine, the pay $5 and get Japanese wine (SAKE) and nuts machine

When John came to visit me in December we went around various places, the usual Osaka, Kyoto, Tokyo circuit. But some of the more obscure vending machines always made me chuckle. Yes, machines that sell cigarettes, warm corn soup and dragon ball Z cola [usually sold out] are common place, as are booze machines. However, they do have measures in place to stop under-age drinking/smoking. Nonetheless I don't think I'll ever get over the idea of alcohol in vending machines, no matter how many times I see it. Sadly, John and I didn't go anywhere dodgy enough to see things like used panty vending machines etc, but to be honest I'm kinda glad. I think they've gotten rid of those anyway [THANK GOD!] Here are a few pics.

John with the 2L beer dispenser

Outside a hot spring where you can buy giant cokes, giant grape fantas and beer/pre-mixed drinks without identification

  

In Japan, you have to earn your Pringles(TM) by playing a skill tester

Anyway, that's all from me, I'm already running late to Karate practice so I better get a move on, when I have time I'll put up some more pictures from John's visit, New Years, etc. Stay tuned... Dad :D