Life, Lately: My October + Shibuya Halloween 2019

I failed to write last month's Life, Lately. I was too stubborn to even lift a finger. Probably the gloomy weather was to blame but no, I was just really stubborn lol. But yeah, here I am once again~

First things first, I started going to Sophia University to study Japanese (Advanced Beginner level.) *confetti* I have long wanted to study Japanese cos I'm soooo bad at it and I think I really need to learn now if I want to advance my career and my *life* lol. I couldn't study before due to a lot of reasons: (1) I don't want to and I don't really need it for my job, (2) It is expensive, and (3) I cannot quit my full-time job + part-time job and most classes take up half/whole day. But I woke up one day with the urge of studying it for my own sake so I started looking for a class that works for my current work schedule and then saved up for the tuition fee. I figured, albeit late, that I really need to know and be able to use Japanese cos hellooooo, I'm here in Japan and I think I'm staying for good. I just have to sacrifice my プレイ時間 (play time aka travel/museum/relax/etc. time) to study but guess it will be worth it in the end. I hope. *fingers crossed* I'm on my fourth week as of writing and I'm enjoying it- I'm continuously challenged and I loooove our pretty building so much! So superficial lol but yup, the environment makes me want to go to school, if that makes sense heh~

October also got me early Christmas presents in the form of visits of friends from the Philippines! I met three people, one of which was a classmate from high school, while the other two were orgmates from college. It always feels soooo great having visitors here cos I get to feel *Philippines* and talk in my native Filipino language! Such a breath of fresh air!

Also, I went to the Van Gogh Exhibit at Ueno Royal Museum with mama and Kenji. Not my first time going to a Van Gogh exhibit but like the previous ones, I'm left in awe. Van Gogh is really the man! No wonder him and his works are well-loved in Japan! The exhibit was small and it only took us less than two hours to check everything out so we decided to wander around Ameyoko. Fun timezzzzz, definitely!

Annual Halloween Event at work was busy but fun! This is the time of the year that I'm an extra proud momma of my kids/students for braving the stage and doing their best performing! We also did trick or treat and gave lots of sweets! The teachers brought home some too! Afterwards, some of my workmates and I went to Rakeru for some Alice in Wonderland-inspired omurice!

Last but not the least, Shibuya Halloween!!!👻🎃 I go yearly cos I like dressing up a lot and Halloween is one of those times I won't be judged if I do lol! This year, I went twice! Yup twice! First with my stationery lover friends Kaila and Julie and we went as stationery, of course! I was a washi girl, Kaila was a Hobonichi journal, and Julie was a post girl! We took purikura (a must lol), took pictures on the street while we were still fresh, had heart-to-heart talks over Gongcha milk tea, ate dinner at TGI Fridays, walked from Harajuku to Shibuya, took pictures at our home aka LoFT Shibuya, and then mixed in the fun with people clad in costumes! Fuuuuuun night!

Second was with Kenji, his workmate Alim, and Alim's friend. I went as Eevee (again), Kenji as Snorlax, and Alim as Sasuke! We went on the actual Halloween day and as expected, Shibuya was packed! It was fun though! One of the very rare days in a year that you can get away talking to strangers without being creepy lol! We took purikura of course, and looooots of pictures with everyone! Fuuuun!

Check out my Instagram (@alyssashimode)  for more photos! 

Soooo, that was my October! How was yours? Hope you had a wonderful month! Let's enjoy November and please look forward to another update from me!♡

xx,

Alyssa

Life, Lately: Crossroads

July. 

Halfway through the year. 

Funnily enough, I'm stuck in the narrow hollow of decisions, if there's a physical space associated with it. I probably was stuck earlier but I was too preoccuppied to notice. I mean, this life? It's great. Who would not want to stay where they seem to have things going on for them? But eventually, no matter how glittery and pretty things are going, me being stuck won't go unnoticed, unless I purposely do it and then it's just going to be this viscious cycle of ons and offs and then I'll blame myself for not addressing it earlier when I had better chances of making my stand better. But then, isn't that human nature? Or I'm just too quirky for this world lol.

Enough of the vague introductions which I think I failed at doing- preparing you for my dilemma this month, I'm just gonna spill it. I don't want you to think that you're required to help me nor give me a sound advice (but if you want to, please, thank you). You listening rather reading, is enough.

I graduated as a Biology major though I ended up in the education field. I found teaching tiring but very rewarding. My current work is near my house and gives me paid leaves that allows me to go for long vacations if I want to and salary that lets me afford going on a few trips throughout the year, on top of all the bills I have to pay while living here in Japan. So you'd probably ask, what the hell is your problem even?

Quite a lot and tricky, I may say. You see, the scenario above is my current comfort zone. And I feel like I'm stuck here though I know I can just go out of it. But I'm scared to actually go out of it  and I don't really know... I've been weighing my options for a couple of times already. I've been talking to other people, especially those older than me just to get their insights. In spite of those, I'm still lost. And scared. I have come to a conclusion (for now) that I have a lot of things on my plate- a lot of things interest me, it's in my nature, but I thought of those being hindrances to knowing what I really want. And maybe, just maybe, letting go some of those would help me. But will I be happy letting those things go even if they make me happy and sane? Quite like a double-edged sword lol. Anyway, for now, I'm thinking of doing these things:

- finally studying Japanese in an actual school (to help with more career choices in the future but how long will it take me to  actually know enough to shift careers? )

- delving deeper into education by earning a TESOL or a Master's degree in Education (but then this will narrow my career options into education and related ones)

- diving into a completely different field, like I actually thought of studying International Business Communications offered in one of the schools here in Tokyo 

Ahhh this whole career thing is driving me insane which makes me not to want to do anything and just stay right where I am now. But where's the growth in that? I owe this to myself, at least to try, I think.

Well, at some point I need to figure this out, ね? For now, here are some July snippets, minus the heavy dilemma above. And as always, thanks to the people around me who help me with serious thingamajigs and also help me breathe when things get too tight. I appreciate you all.♡

Tanabata Festival at work~

Bar Zingaro aka Takashi Murakami's bar/cafe in Nakano

Cafe-hopping and catch-up with Kaila

Visited the beau and I's favorite Korean chicken place, Shinchan and did some roaming around K-town.

Washi Tape Museum with stationery lover friends! We had so much fun shopping around for tapes and stickers that we were the last customers to leave- the store shutters were already closed so we had to wait for the store staff to open it lol! 楽しかったです〜

 

Friday on a Monday with these girls from work. I love how we roll- from venting out stressful things to purikura real quick haha!

Anyway, half of the year already passed by. Let's hope for more happiness and blessings to come our way but let's not forget that we can make our happiness and work for more blessings, too! *wink*

xx, 

Alyssa

Life, Lately: Celebrations and Realizations

Every June the past years, I get busy getting into everyone's schedules to celebrate my birthday. And I am thankful for those people who have shared their time and energy with me. This year was a complete turn around and I did not really plan on doing anything grand cos I'm saving up for something and well, I'm just tired and getting old that I somehow don't want to do anything, ya know, stuff like that. But the universe still made ways, as if it's a dear friend pulling some strings to make things work. It worked. And for that I'm forever grateful.

I welcomed my birth month with a weekend trip to Shizuoka with my family- probably the first time in a loooong time that I celebrated my birthday with them. It was a much-needed breather for me and I guess for my family, too. We went to this cabin in the middle of the woods somewhere in Kannami, had BBQ for dinner, dipped into the private onsen, and breathed in the view of Mt. Fuji through the window. The next day, we roamed around Atami (the beau and I's second time) and Mishima. It was a fun trip and to be honest, I did not expect it to be. But it was. This trip will forever be in my heart and memory.

First time to see an alpaca in person! Omg! Haha!

If you are in Mishima area, definitely go to Mishima Rakujuen Park!

On my actual birthday, I had a very interesting dinner care of the beau. Everything was great, the raclette, the edible jelly lipsticks, ahhhh the dessert table! I loved this night! And when I got home, I got a birthday cake my Mama ordered for me. Ahhhh a million times yes!

I was also lucky to have tutees-turned-friends and one decided to have our conversation lesson while celebrating my birthday at Shinjuku Mitsui Club.  ありがとうございました。

Since there was a Detective Pikachu campaign at Pokemon Cafe, we went of course. Though this was our second time at the cafe, we still enjoyed how cute the food were! 

Pokémon Cafe

〒103-0027　東京都中央区日本橋二丁目11番2号　日本橋髙島屋Ｓ.Ｃ.東館　５階電話番号　03-6262-3439

Last but not the least of my birthday celebrations... indoor skydiving! My childhood friend and beau joined me and I could not have asked for better companions. I loved every bit of this day.

Fly Station Japan 

Nearest Station: Koshigaya Laketown Station, 12 min walk

For details and reservations, visit https://flystation.jp.

As if all those celebrations did not exhaust my energy and my pocket, I went to Chiba to see one of my favorite flowers- hydrangea/ajisai with my cousin and beau and I did not regret nor I ever will. Just look at these beauties! 

Read more about my hydrangea heaven escape here:

 https://alyssashimode.blogspot.com/2019/07/hydrangea-heaven-at-hattori-farm.html

Since my cousin is here for a limited time, we also decided to go to Shiota Chiharu's exhibit, something I've been looking forward even before it opened. It was a  great ending to a great day and a great month that was June.

Celebrations aside, if there's something I've learned this month, or have re-learned rather, it was focusing on who is important, on what is important. I've had my fair share of distractions this first half of 2019, I was blinded by things I deemed as gold but were only rocks, and I've compromised things I should have not even compromised in the first place. Thankfully, I was given another year which means more time to re-align. And that, for me, is the best gift my 28-year-old self has received this year. 

Hope your June was beautiful. Moreover, I hope July has been treating you well. 

xx,

Alyssa

Life, Lately: May Day(s)

Hello, hellooooo~

 It's been two months since I've written something re: my life. Not that I'm saying you're interested nor you've missed anything grand about this mundane, humdrum existence of mine, but yeah... let's say I just missed "talking" to this blank space on the www. Also, March and April were a blur- those two months happened so fast and it's just now that I got to pause and calm down even for a little bit.

First off, I finally finished my Beautiful Bicol series, a three-part write-up on my recent trip somewhere in  my home country, Philippines. 

If you haven't read them, you can access the following links:

Bagasbas Beach x Around Daet https://alyssashimode.blogspot.com/2019/04/beautiful-bicol-bagasbas-beach-x-around.html

Calaguas x Balagbag Island

https://alyssashimode.blogspot.com/2019/04/temporary-backup-beautiful-bicol.html 

All About Mayon

https://alyssashimode.blogspot.com/2019/05/beautiful-bicol-magayon-mayon.html 

You might have also heard that Japan  changed its emperor and along with it comes a change in the name of the era. From Heisei, it's now Reiwa, which I turned to like because of the petty reason that its kanji characters are easy to write for a kanji noob that is *drumroll* me lol~ So yeah, this year's Golden Week in Japan was a whopping 10-day  vacation (for some lucky ones, yours truly included) because of that so  I was able to spend a few days in Yamanashi with the beau's family. It was quite fun and I'm planning to make a proper post on our Yamanashi trip (once I get the time and the will to write it lol) so doncha worry~

Also, I went to iKON Fan Meeting 2019, something I've been eagerly waiting for this month. Well, I love iKON to death, need I say more? Heh~

One random night, I answered a personality test online (again, after three years) and me being "shocked" with the results is an understatement. I am INFP-T (The Adventurer). Since when did I become an introvert??? I mean, I always thought I like people and being with people- that I'm an extravert/extrovert. I had the surprise of my life from an online test *much wow* lol. I was an ENTP-T (The Debater) before. 

Guess, people really change over time huh~ 

Here is the link if you wanna try out for yourself: 

https://www.16personalities.com

Shocking personality tests aside, the beau and I had a little Narita exploration after we brought his parents and relatives to the airport! I've always associated Narita with well, Narita Airport. But then there's more to it being an airport- go out and you'll see. I did that and I'm glad I did. Another proper post about that coming soon. *wink*

Last but not the least, Roppongi Art Night 2019 which I enjoyed better than last year's. I'd have to give the curators a very big round of applause for this! I enjoyed a lot!

Ahhh quite a lot of things happened, huh? But I guess there's gonna be more cos June is my birth month!

So yup! Until then, www friends!

xx,

Alyssa

Life, Lately: Oh February, You're So Fine

And just like that, February ended. I can't fathom how fast this year has been going for me. How did those 28 days go unnoticed? I guess I was the only one who didn't really pay attention... my camera roll says otherwise. 

Continuing January's theme of *lay-lowing on life*, here were the things that made it hard for me to stick to that theme lol

⎡Valentine's Day⎦

An excuse to have dinner at La Boheme Qualita in Shibuya a.k.a. our go-to date place. I've lost track of the celebrations Kenji and I shared in this place (or rather in this restaurant chain, they have other branches where we have gone to before) but ya get that idea that it's "that" place for us heh~ Since we both grew up in the Philippines, we still have not accustomed ourselves to how the Japanese celebrate this day when girls give chocolates and whatnot to the boys. Kenji and I sorta exchanged gifts but we stood away from chocolates (I'm not really fond of them lol)

⎡K-pop Dance Classes at Otoya⎦

If you know me from college, you'd know I love k-dramaaaa! And later on, learned to love k-pop as well. I started listening to that genre back when people still cringe at it, now I don't care anymore if they still cringe- to each his own ha~ But yeah, now I'm into it more than ever, to the point of wanting to dance to the songs lol. I started random dance lessons summer last year and it was something I'm glad I started doing because the stretchings are great. Stretchings before the dance lesson proper are the only stretchings I do (I'm lazy af) haha. The catchy songs and cute steps are just bonuses! This month I got to go to three dance lessons! Still not good at it but I sure had fun!

⎡Onsen and Chill⎦

Went to an onsen somewhere near Shimmura-Sakaue Station and stayed the whole day dipping in the numerous baths, eating, being massaged by uhm massage chairs haha, and sleeping. Such a chill way to spend time and heal!

⎡Setagaya Ume Matsuri/ Setagaya Plum Festival⎦ Hanegi Park, Setagaya

I took a day off for the sake of using my paid leaves cos I haven't used one throughout the year. With that said, I tapped my childhood friend for some catching-up under the pretty plum trees. Glad we were blessed with a very fine day; Totoro even joined us~

So yeah, that was February for me (okay, those above plus work)! Can't wait for the second half of March! Why? You'll see in the next Life, Lately update! See ya! ♡

xx,

Alyssa

*****

Follow me on Instagram for more Japan travel and life photos and stories: 

@alyssashimode

Life, Lately: Hello and Bye, January!👋🏻

Ahhhh one month down 2019! How are you? I still can't decide whether January went fast or slow lolー that's how lost I was and still am. Surprisingly, I was not that bothered (okay a little bit) that I'm lost. The past years I was lost too but at least then, I had things in mind I wanted to pursue and reach. I looked straight and just went on until I get them. But now it seems like I'm lay-lowing on life. I'm not my usual go-getter self. I feel like this year's theme would be living one day at a time... way different from the previous years. It's refreshing, though. I just don't know where this will take me. Who knows?

Anyway, before I bore you with my 27-year-old-lost-girl thoughts, let me share with you the highs of my January! At least the pictures are more entertaining than me just babbling nonsense, right? LOL

Hatsumode/ first Shinto shrine visit of the year

(Okunitama Jinja, Fuchu)

Went around five in the morning to pray and wish, as well as buy omamori/ lucky amulets~

Omiya Railway Museum

Been meaning to go here for a looong time and we finally did after years of trying haha! Kenji and I enjoyed the museum like kids lol! I love everything! We bought tickets at Lawson (Loppi Machine) instead of on the day at the museum for it was a little cheaper that way~

Yamanashi Weekend

(Gasthof Lumiere, Arakurayama Sengen Park/ Chureito Pagoda)

Staycation with Kenji for our monthsary aka an excuse to leave Tokyo and breathe in fresh air~ I was searching for real fireplaces x private baths and it led me to Gasthof Lumiere! The Chureito Pagoda visit was a last-minute decision and we had to hike for the great view but it was totally worth it!

Tokyo Metro: The Underground Mysteries

This was actually our second time to try this Tokyo-wide-puzzle-solving challenge and as always, it was amazing! Got to roam around parts of Tokyo I know exist but never really bothered to go to lol~ It was funnnnnn! Try it when you have the time! The 2018 version ended this 31st of January so you might have to wait for the 2019 version! Kits are available in Japanese and in English, doncha worry! *wink*

Art Bar Tokyo Painting Night

(The Hive, Jinnan)

Finally got the guts to join a painting class~ I knew this for a while now but I was always hesitant to go because I don't really paint and the classes are usually conducted in Japanese (which you and I know I'm bad at lol). But then, the stars must be on my side for they offered a lesson in English and the subjects were close to my heart: Tokyo and Van Gogh! Hell yeah, I went! Dragged Kenji, too! Ha!

Karuizawa Snowboarding/Skating Trip with Friends

(Prince Snow Resort, Harunire Terrace, Kera Ike Skating Rink)

Second time in Karuizawa, Nagano and it was indeed lovelier~ I blogged about this already and you can read it here: https://alyssashimode.blogspot.com/2019/01/a-winter-weekend-in-karuizawa.html.

Fuji Youchien Campus Tour

Sooo Fuji Youchien is a famous kindergarten in Tokyo, famous that I knew it from a Red Duck video that circulated on Facebook~ I was surprised that it's in my city! A friend went earlier and tipped us about the four times a year campus tour it hosts so off Kenji and I went~  I loved the rooftop playground!

Believe it or not, these things were *not that planned* the Alyssa way a.k.a. planned months before with an itinerary (except for the campus tour cos I had to fight for my slot so I had to book it early). But you know what? I'm finally learning to be more okay with unplanned things, to just live and savor each day when it comes, to just rest. I must have been restless all these years (because I felt the need to). I'm slowing down but my heart is calm. And that's a good thing, right?

How was your January? Any goals / realizations / discoveries?

xx,

Alyssa

Life, Lately: 2017's Last Hurrahs

I can't believe how fast 2017 went! It seems like yesterday when I was panicking because my luggage was stuck in one of the lockers at Kyoto Station a few minutes before my bus to Tokyo departs on the first day of 2017... and now, that year just finished? Howwwwww~

Lots happened in 2017, well, I tried to write them all down here in my blog, but uhm heh, so much for trying~ But now I'm gonna try again, for all the months I've missed so bear with me, yeah?

~OCTOBER~

Cosmos Festival at Showa Kinen Park

Underwhelming sight but we enjoyed a relaxing afternoon of biking, napping under a tree, singing along to a ukulele... such a perfect day~

Cambridge Sports Day and Halloween Party

Too much preps needed but I kinda enjoyed seeing my students do the activities we've prepared for them. Plus, it has become a habit of mine to observe how they act with their parents around. It surprises me everytime! They're like different beings and the ones with me in my classes are doppelgangers hah~

Photo from the school's Facebook page

In our Halloween party get-ups!

This year, I was tasked to do face painting (ahhhh feels so nice to do some artsy stuff for work)

Shibuya Halloween Street Party

The much-awaited event of the quarter yay! Planned and prepared for our costumes a few months ahead, unlike last year haha! The beau and I went as Team Rocket's Jessie and James! And oh, our costumes are DIY!!! Woohoo, did it!!! Also, meeting up on Halloween in Shibuya has sort of become a tradition for the beau, Kuya Ikki, and I. Happy night for dinner and some drinks after work!

Jessie of Team Rocket~

 The trio

Love how strangers in Shibuya were so game for a photo that night! Ahhh that community feels~

~NOVEMBER~

Autumn in Nikko

A shotgun trip. New faces, no itinerary but a fun trip, I may say. I hope I can make a detailed blog post about this soon! Thanks to these fun people for a day full of laughter and nature!

Nikko crew

Photo grabbed from Ben

The Doraemon Tokyo Exhibition 2017

My childhood friend Dhana came to Tokyo for a vacation so I tapped another childhood friend Tomo who's currently living here in Japan, too, for an ultimate Tokyo meet-up! Originally planned on checking out an exhibit in Mori Art Museum but it wasn't available when we went so we checked out the Doraemon exhibit at the same venue. Also went up the Skydeck and had our photo taken with all of Tokyo's skyscrapers and lights! Of course, lots of catch-ups happened! Plus  a side-trip to Shibuya before calling it a day!

My childhood friends, Tomo and Dhana ♥︎

Our moms are amigas til now and we literally grew up side-by-side while we were in the Philippines. Now, Tomo and I reside in Saitama and Tokyo, respectively.

Doraemon x Takashi Murakami

The Sun and the Moon cafe had a matching theme~

Yay for Doraemon-inspired dishes! 

View from the SkyDeck

Paid for a print plus a downloadable copy of this shot haha

Onsen Day in Shimura-sakaue

Since that impromptu onsen trip in Yamanashi earlier this year, I new-found love for onsens blossomed and so we researched for onsens in Tokyo and found one in an unknown area that is Shimura-sakaue haha. But in all fairness, our experience was really good and relaxing. The lola inside me is very happy heh~

~DECEMBER~

Dates with workmates and friends coming over to Tokyo for a visit

Random ones on rare occassions that I'm free after work haha! These times, I really treasure. ♥︎

Pizza x karaoke with Tori and Saki

*Fancy* dinner with workmates on a Monday night

Buffet night for Kuya Ikki's birthday! Unli everything, and yassss unli crabs omggg I live for crabs haha

Okonomiyaki night with Kuya Rey (na ginagawanh probinsiya ang Japan sa ilang beses niyang pagpunta in a year haha not complaining, though)

Roasted quail experience with the beau and Ryo

Roppongi Day 2 with my childhood friends (again)

Too many things happened this day, the steps I took according to my Mi Band 2 were 16,000ish haha! Went to Zojoji Temple, had late lunch at Cafe Mugiwara, checked out Tokyo One Piece Tower, then went up Tokyo Tower's Observation Deck for the sunset. Sulit day~

Zojoji Temple feat. Tokyo Tower

Cafe Mugiwara's One Piece-themed dishes

One Piece Amusement Park, Tokyo One Piece Tower

View from the Observation Deck of Tokyo Tower ahhh! For some reason, I always, always take a shot of this view whenever I visit Tokyo Tower hah~

Caretta Illumination 2017

Side-tripped to Shiodome after the happenings above (haha omg walang kapaguran) for the illumination, ate a gigantic burrito at Frijoles for dinner, had ice cream and coffee at Tiki Taka x Sarutahiko!

Kimono Roboto Exhibit at Omotesando Hills

Saw an ad of this randomly and thought it's pretty cool so I went! Ended up getting heart eyes as I look at the kimonos on display and *yay* free prints as well~

Ended the day with some coffee and...

some nice city views~

Cambridge Christmas Party 

My last Christmas party in this school *ahhh mixed emotions* It was fun teaching my students how to make the crafts alongside their parents!

Photos from Pearl

Christmas dinner at the Fujimotos

Glad to be present that night. The Christmas spirit in that household was kickin', not to mention the digital fireplace heh~ Thanks for having me po!

Christmas Eve with family

Simple dinner at home, I think better than last year's "3AM Christmas Eve dinner" at Royal Host haha!

Christmas Dinner with the beau

Second Christmas together at our favourite Italian restaurant yayyyy *heart eyes*

Media Noche with family

The 31st of December and we're all warming up around the kotatsu eating home-cooked meals ahhh~ I loved this night, I'm gonna keep this memory in my heart forever! We also got to video chat my lola who is living in the PH, as well as other family relatives currently in our house celebrating the coming of the new year as well!♥︎

Wewwww what a year 2017 was! It was all sorts of fun but I had down times, too! But if there's one takeaway I got from 2017, it is breathing and trying one more time~

How did your 2017 go? Any learnings you might want to share? Comment down below freely!

P.S. To you who's reading this now and to you who has been reading my blog for the past years, thank you for reading and sparing my blog some time! I appreciate you and I'd like you to know that readers like you make me go on writing here even if sometimes I feel like doing so is a waste of time. Thank you!♥︎

Cheers to a better 2018,

Alyssa