Japanese people know how to party...

After a day of not being able to stay awake and not being able to focus, I had forgotten that tonight was the night of our lab's "Welcome to the lab" dinner for myself and a couple other new people. And by dinner, I mean a five hour social gathering.

We walked to the restaurant (a solid 30 minute walk) to a wealthier side of town and came to this restaurant. This place was very typical of more traditional style (some of the guys who didn't speak much English just loved saying "Ja-po-nesa-sty-lu" ... i.e. Japanese style) with many many courses (I was full by the third one) and unlimited drinks.

And man alive, the guys could drink. It's customary (as I was told) to never pour your own drink if you're of higher rank (or just a male in some cases). So when a sensei went to go to pour his own drink, someone would always stop him and do it for him. Quite funny to watch. Anyways, maybe about 10 guys and 10 women total. The guys pounded 4 or 5 huge pitchers of beer within the first 10 minutes, and then their own drinks were ordered, then they ordered sake as a table (and were drinking that pretty crazily), then afterwards they were drinking just ice water. I thought, that's smart... they know their limit. Nope. I asked Kanami-san and it was actually another mix drink w/ ice that happened to be completely clear. They weren't turning red much either (until the fourth hour anyways). They were funny when less inhibited. These bunch really seem to enjoy sitting and talking. I feel like for me my idea of an outing involves much more "doing" in some way. It was fun though. I just didn't think it was going to last five hours. Matsumoto-sensei informed me that this is very normal for groups going out to eat. One meal lasts all night, and then some karaoke or other late night evenings. After Matsumoto-sensei and I were drunk off our ginger-ales and grape juice, we left them to their camaraderie and hilarious antics (it really was a fun night). I arrived home close to midnight. Three nights in a row folks. I was sleepy.

Pictured above are some of what we ate. Top right is an avocado salad w/ fried wonton wrapper crunched into it. Quite good. The Vietnamese-looking spring rolls actually weren't so Asian. That's a huge chunk of feta cheese in the middle. Nom Nom. Also very tasty. The rolls on a stick is actually pork and some spice rolled up and then wrapped w/ a thin piece of bacon. Very good, though the spice was very new to me. I also had the sashimi (salmon and yellow tail) which was actually more like carpaccio but didn't take a picture because well, I wanted to hurl. Still can't used to something sliming down my throat. I like COOKED food. Haha.

About an hour after that there was what we know as hot pot. Also good. But I was already stuffed by this point (there's other food in between, but I forget). About an hour after that Udon was served. Another hour, another more Chinese noodle dish, another hour, a cute Alon style bakery dessert. I was full.

I was fielding questions of evvverrrything while learning Japanese customs. Crazy crazy.

I slept when I got home...




Of the peoples names I can remember. These are it. Kanami, Reiji, Akio, Akiko, Nakamura-san, Matsumoto-sensei, Hashimoto-san, and a bunch of other people. I just forget easily. Ah well.

Here are some pics of the festivities.

Reiji and Hire?

Matsumoto-sensei

The one in pink is Kanami

Smile! (They say cheese in Japan, too)

Biru! Biru!

-Tim Soo