Alexander's

I don't read news, that are not technic related, my friends know I don't care about politics and I gladly the guys in the lab don't talk about these things either. Basically this leads to a totally serene working environment. I don't have to think about the latest political blunders, the crimes of some warlord or worry about what some evil company did now.

The first time I came into contact with the concept of swine flu was after coughing in the subway. Usually the places next to me are a little more empty than elsewhere in the subway. By now I'm used to that, so I was not very surprised that this day my bench was also almost empty, while the bench on the opposite side of the subway was nearly full.

What I was about to experience was not so normal anymore. I coughed a normal innocent cough and the masked lady to my right -- sitting four seats further down the row -- turned away panic stricken, while the few remaining unmasked people started to fanatically search for theirs and put them on. Seeing this the first people sitting opposite of me started to stand up and move to the edged of the wagon. By the time my train entered the next station I was almost alone in the wagon. Only one brave unmasked 高校生[^1] remained smiling mildly in my direction -- at least that's what I wished for. In reality it was an old lady -- her expression set in stone, not willing to give up her place just because of one lousy Gaijin, who might have some deadly desease. I guess even if I had something infectious she would have been pretty save anyway -- the look she gave me probably would have killed any bacteria I might have thrown her way the instant they left my body.

I totally understand the enhanced need for pandemic precautions in Tokyo. A city this pressed for living space might be just the petri dish, that the next killer virus is looking for. If you ask why, then I just bring the example of todays elevator at lunchtime. The allowed maximum number of people: 11 -- people inside the elevator (before I entered) 12. Yes I agree it's a bit tight to cram 13 people in an elevator designed for 11 -- even if 12 of those 13 people are relatively small japanese, but honestly this is still roomy compared to the subway in the rush hour.

Therefore I said nothing, when I was asked to report all contacts with suspicious foreigners.[^2] I accepted the explanation about not going to places where lots of people meet[^3] I even filled out the report that asked me where I would be staying in March, I laughed about them closing down schools out of fear, but today when I was asked to wash my hands with disinfection soap before entering the presentation room I felt something snap.

Do whatever crazy things you want to do, but please don't force me to do things that have next to no medical benefit and make me smell like I drowned in an antiseptic tank! This is worse than the last time there was a virus going around and the secretary came in our room twice a day and sprayed alcohol everywhere. I smelled like an alcoholic for a month![^4]

[^1]: High school (girl) [^2]: I reported one girl right after finding out about this and tonight I'm going to meet a friend that was abroad and came back slightly sick - this will be fun [^3]: like the subway or basically any place in Tokyo [^4]: Of course the alcohol is also back, but now I just flee to the clean room, or the vacuum chamber, where people are not allowed to spray alcohol around

Since my 60-80 hours week still leaves me with a plethora of free time that I somehow have to fill, I decided to join a circle this semester. Circles are ment for people that share a hobby, but are not serious enough to really spent 1-2 hours a day on it, like the clubs require you to.

So if you are not serious, then why even bother to join a circle?

Well first of all there is no photography group, secondly I get to use all the equipment the circle has, without the need to spend an hour per day with photography. This alone is great and reason enough to join a club and the third -- for some people the most important point -- is, that some circles are joint circles between the girls from お茶の水[^1] and 東大.[^2] Sadly, or gladly, depending on your reasons for joining the circle, the photography circle is not one of those joint circles and that's exactly the reason why I decided to also join the tennis club.

Do you play tennis?
No
would you like to start playing?
Well I tried it when I was little, but didn't really like it
Alex please come to the party with me. There will be a lot of girls and you will really have a lot of fun.

Ok so I decided to go to the welcome party of a club I will only ever join to go to cool, cheap parties and pick up girls. Apparently that's completely ok, since this is a circle and a lot of people can't really play tennis.

So how are these parties?

The party started at a train station. The members bring the new students to an Izakaya -- only the girls and the students that are already in the club for longer than a year can come with the first bunch. All the new boys have to wait until the best seats next to the pretty girls are taken by the older students and are then lead to the place.

After entering the place and finding my seat I realized the wisdom of bringing me along. The places next to the Gaijin and his translator were hot commodity amongst the girls of the club. Thirty minutes into the evening my friend revealed that I basically came to pick up girls and have no real interest in playing tennis. And while I started to acquire a deep crimson color the three girls sitting opposite of me decided that I'm actually quite cute.

G: Which one of us it the best looking?
A: What?
F: They want to know which one you like best.
A: I can't say that.

The girl sitting next to me grabs a pice of paper and writes "left" "middle" "right" on it and then passes me the pen with a smile.

F: Pick one. No matter which one -- you can go home with her!
A: Do you know how the Trojan war started?
G: don't worry we are all good friends.

Well no wars were started by me that night and I went home alone, but this night opened my eyes and I really think about giving tennis another try. After all I'll not be bitten anymore -- at least not by dogs.[^3]

[^1]: Teewater a girls only University [^2]: Todai - I guess by now most people already know these Kanji [^3]: I wrote this about 3 weeks ago, but only now found the time to reread it and post it. This has no relation to recent things you might have read on facebook

I have a japanese friend, that I greatly enjoy spending time with. We sometimes go shopping, to a bar, visit a park or eat a snack together. She speaks quite good English, corrects my Japanese, tells me if I sound like a girl and makes fun of my strange and outlandish habits. She likes the Japanese Todai students, because they are nice, well behaved and polite and my European friends, because they are funny and crazy. I get to speak a lot of Japanese and she talks a lot of English. We meet once or twice a week for a few hours -- neither of us has more time to spare and that way our relationship also keeps casual.

This arrangement is almost perfect.

So this weekend we met, as so often, in Harajuku[^1] and decided to go on a quick window-shopping trip and then sit down in the very nice Yoyogi Park, just around the corner. I was thinking of maybe buying new jeans and a second opinion is always a good thing to have. Otherwise I would end up with something totally crazy I could never wear.

Could we go up that street first?
Sure, but why?
My mother is very shy, but she wants to see you, so she is sitting in one of the cafes and wants us to walk by, so she can get a peek at you.

Surely a very reasonable request. Meeting the mother in person might include subtext neither of us would like to include, but if I just walk by a cafe where she happens to sit, no harm is done. So we walk down the street and then start shopping. After about five minutes my friend gets a mail from her mother -- I'm apparently a nice person and the mother approves of us going shopping.

The interesting thing is this never seemed strange to me, until I told a friend. Well I guess Japan is slowly but surely getting me when I don't find these only in Japan moments strange anymore.

Want some more strange things?

How about the 30 year old professional photographer, that opened a photography club at a girls only university, basically to get naked shots of the girls there. He is now 50 and still quite active in that club.

Oh and while talking about photos, the photography club of the Todai asked me if I wanted to participate in an exhibition. I'm not yet sure if I have enough photos of girls' panties, but I'll give my best anyway!

[^1]: one of the crazy fashion areas in Tokyo