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So yeah, New Year:s was fun. I hope everyone else had a good time!
The worst I came home with was singed eyelashes, so I am thankful. I crawled in at like 7 or so. Shocked I found my way back!



Yesterday after I ate (the best hangover food ever, apparently, is vegetable ramen and gyouza). I snuck into my room and slept. I tried to sleep in the common area on the massage chair but they kicked me out! So I slept and they cleaned around me.



Then I got myself up at like 5:30 and went to Shibuya. And to my horror... Shibuya 109 was closed!!!!!! There were a bunch of crazy teenage nihonjin girls who made forts out of cardboard boxes and were lining up outside for something. I walked around for a bit, had some more ramen. Had some milk tea and people watched for a bit. Then went back and slept again.



This morning Valentina and went at 8am to the Imperial Palace. It's only open to the public two days a year, and today was one of them! So we went. There were soooo many people. People were passing out paper Japanese flags, but when we walked by, turned the other way. I guess they don:t want non-Japanese to hold their flag...? We waited in queues for blocks, then got patted down, waited in two more queues, then got in and stood in a massive crowd and waited for the Emperor to come out. He came out, everyone cheered, he said some words, everyone cheered. People were literally screaming `banzaiii!!!`... it was kinda funny. They were waving their exclusive little flags. Then we all shuffled out. The whole thing was pretty interesting.

Anyway, it's 4:30 in the morning now. My sleep schedule is fucked! I'm so hungry but I can't leave this place until 6 to get food. ugh.

Ok, I guess I'll go read or something. Maybe do thesis work. That's what I'm here for, right?.................................right...............