Nomi-hodai.

Dad told me he didn't want to know if I went out and got totally drunk, so I'm respecting his wishes and posting it here. Last night I discovered the joys (and pains) of nomi-hodai, which means "all you can drink". A bunch of teachers went out to a nomi-hodai/tabe-hodai restaurant (all you can eat, all you can drink) which cost about $20 Cdn for 2 hours of meatstroke and drinks (amazing, eh?). Then we went to a bar, then we went out for Karaoke.

It was an interesting night because I discovered the life I could live here, if I wanted. I could go out and party every night, spending more money than I really should and getting drunk more often than I should. Some people live like that, and as much as I had fun last night (notwithstanding my spectacularly failed attempt to sing "Arashi" at karaoke) I'm already speculating on ways to change the culture here to create events where people can meet and talk without some sort of thumping music on in the background and/or without alcohol.

Strangely enough, Tony (the cute British guy from the last post) was the one who helped me realize that while I could be a regular drinking/partying Nova teacher, I don't want to be. I've gone from looking up to him and having a bit of a crush on him to finding him a bit sad, really. He's always talking about being tired and hungover at work, and lamenting how much money he's spent, but then he can't seem to not go out at night and stay out until 5am getting drunk. He was so sloshed last night he couldn't remember where he put his bike, and so I had to bring him back to my apartment to sleep (not that I minded... he may have been drunk, but he's still cute ;). He's a really intelligent guy, and he loves Japan, but I just get the sense that he's caught in the party lifestyle and can't really get himself out of it*. At least no one needs to worry about me trying to have a fling with him anymore, since now I've got more of an urge to mother him, to give him tea and a place to sleep off his alcohol.

I am aware, by the way, that all this sounds a bit high-handed and preachy, so I should (in fairness) let you know that I also drank too much, spent too much money, and did some stupid things last night (namely stay out until 5:30 when I've got to work today...) And I can't say I'm not tempted by the idea of a life without worries, where fun is just the next bar away and conversation never goes beyond polite (or perhaps drunken) small talk. A world where you can feel entirely comfortable belting out a Blondie tune with some Japanese girl you just met and ordering more beers for everyone in broken Japanese.

But while that life is fun to try on, I know it's really not me.

[* -- as a sidenote, I have to mention that this morning Tony discovered he'd stolen a tambourine from the karaoke place in some sort of drunken stupor. He seemed so ashamed, but I just thought it was hilarious.]