Another rainy and cold morning turned out to be a sunny day. The perfect chill out feeling under the burning sun fell to pieces due the never ending lessons from the early morning till dusky night. This was also another of those days when you realize the differences in the University systems between different countries. Here, at the different side of the globe, one might notice how the Finnish university motivates students for independent thinking and to question things, that many would accept as facts. At least the difference could be seen when sitting in the same class with some German fellows, who just don’t want to see any relation between international marketing and cultural consiousness. Besides this issue about critical thinking, the Japanese university system is a one big worm hole with all fascinating details. But those I will discuss some other day…

It seems, that besides the first week jet lag problems, I am having some kind of habituation problem with seasons. Yesterday I felt like autumn, today in the class ray of light came between curtains bringing me a feeling of frost, but sunny winter day. For the rest of school day I missed sparkling snowdrifts, setting sun in the ski slope, Tazza cocoa in the ski bistro, and the smell of the toasted rye bread under the Northern lights - - - I came out to the school yard. There I was standing, under the palm trees, wearing a sweater.

After few days chilling in a tropical Tokyo, the rain has become back. I woke from my afternoon nap for feeling cold. The stream of air was strolling through out my feet. First time since arriving here I had the autumn feeling. I felt the falling leaves, lazy rainy days, cold wind blowing from the sea… I am yearning to get to our summer cottage to see how the heghehogs are building their nests, to see the passage-birds and just to listen, how the waves ripple when hitting the shore. But I have to wait. Wait until the next autumn will come, wait till the young heghehogs are starting to build the nest of their own.

Due the rain and dusk, the day was ment to spend inside. And becoming wise from the feedback, I finally decided to adopt new outlook for this blog. Hopefully reading the older post would be now easier. At least the left side list of links is not one big mess anymore. Today we heard also, that the exchange places for BScBA 5’s has been decided. Though, the little bird didn’t told who is coming to the land of torture for the autumn 2006 semester. Maybe we’ll find that out… But meanwhile waiting the information, I learn the Katakana. At least I try.

It is a just an ordinary evening with the same old ordinary habits. Going to the gym, standing in the afternoon rush hour, hanging around the Koenji, studying nihongo at home, and just … well, writing this. The absolute highlights of the day were the smelly and mouldig sleeping bag Ali borrowed, and the fact, that my kitchen didn’t stink due the heavy airing I’ve been doing last few days.

Since the life in Tokyo is settling down to the path fulfilled with idle days, it has become a time to seek for the new adventures. The plan is no more torture anymore. A journey to Hachijo island, towards the sun and tropical climate, volcanos and hiking, ecological and flower child lifestyle, golden beaches, surfing and scuba diving, begins on next friday. Although the watersports - at least in this context - won’t be an option due the current shark situation. However, since the low-budgeters are going to be equipped only with two t-shirts and sleeping bags, the experience could almost reach the amount of four litres of shochu we are going to carry with us.

The week has already gone and it is the time to release next Toilet Investigation by the infamous BogeyBumpkin’s associates. The target of the week is captured in the Hambei, an isakaya restaurant in Koenji. This toilet handles automatically as well as cleaning up your bottom as drying it like a typhoon. Unfortunately this electronical toilet is not up to date, causing issues like missing some general functions which will be introduced in the following weeks. The BogeyBumpkin’s associates bows to toilet and wishes all the best defecation moments!

The sun is setting down while I am walking under the bridge of thousands trains. I hear the melancholy in my ears. Step by step, opening my eyes for the surrounding truth. Like a wing wounded bird I struggle through the past, without sense of tomorrow. In somewhere the middle of everything, i see the new world, coming into flower. The depressing athmosphere disappears, although the urban desert is numbing my feet.

And all the sudden, I am playing football with my sweet friends, in the dusky park illuminated by few spotlights. Having a picnic, the best day of my life. Giggling girls, laughter all around … my mind collapses. I try to climb, up to the mountain. I see your face front of me. The picture fades out, crystal clear ice melts, burning like a hot wax in my hands. Like the sad symphony flowed through the air, I feel the pain coming again. Maybe tomorrow, maybe after ten years. Like a tattoo in the heart, the picture will not never totally fade out.