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Alright, so I wake up today (not quite the morning anymore) and take a look out the window. I can hear the sound of Taiko drums beating outside like a roll of thunder. I remember the news saying something about the umpteenth typhoon hitting Japan this year passing by Tokyo today. Why were there drums beating outside? That’s right, it’s the Autumn festival in Kunitachi - the town I live in.

I look out the window again; a sky smeared with clouds of an angry shade of grey. Wasn’t a Typhoon supposed to come in? No rain, though. How odd. The wind is nothing more violent then a brisk breeze, announcing the arrival of Autumn. Usually, when a typhoon is nearing, the grey clouds in the sky seem to stir about like goldfish in a bowl; a beautiful warning of horrors to come. Maybe the sky’s grey wasn’t an angry one, it was just a plain grey that did not need to be read into any further.

I got my act together; got out of bed, shaved (even though I wasn’t planning on meeting anyone special today, and I didn’t have class for the next week), took a shower, put on some neat clothes and headed out. I thought I would go to Tsutaya (the local DVD rental shop) to return a couple of DVDs I took, ON TIME this time. A good change for me. The Tsutaya dudes must be happy that this little foreigner didn’t disappoint anyone this time around.

I didn’t expect the Autumn festival to be VERY big - especially since Kunitachi is such a tiny town in the West side of Tokyo. I go out, with a bag flung over my shoulder. Inside the bag, was my electronic Japanese-English dictionary, the DVDs I was about to return and a copy of “A Wild Sheep Chase” by Haruki Murakami (so far, this novel looks promising). At any rate, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the roads were lively. There were many people, dressed in Yukata. Children of all ages running all over the place. As any Japanese festival, there were MANY, MANY stalls - especially with ones selling food and games. When I say games, I mean traditional - although there was the occasional stall selling GAMEBOYs and PLAYSTATIONs. Welcome to Modern Japan, I tell myself. I had to dodge a few dozen people to get to Tsutaya to return the DVDs, then walked back down the street. I wasn’t in a PARTICULARLY festive mood - I never really enjoy festivals of any kind, especially when I am alone. So, I just took a quick run through the festival. Saw some people carrying a portable shrine, but NOTHING compared to the festival in Asakusa, this was just kid’s play. I decided to just run into Tully’s (my favorite coffee shop here in Kunitachi) and keep reading the novel I had with me. I kept at for an hour and a half, while having my first meal for the day: a bagel. Yummy.

As I walked out the coffee shop, I tried to shy away from the young lady working at the counter, who is always extra-nice to me. Don’t know why. It’s all just for fun. And walked briskly to my dormitory. In the distance, I can catch a glimpse of a mountain range. But the sky was too cloudy. Scratch that. It was probably just a rediculously dark cloud. Was a Typhoon coming or not, I wonder. Either way, I don’t have the time or energy to care - I had to be in my sword clas in an hour.

When I got to the dorm, the finals of the the Autumn’s Sumo Tournament in Tokyo was on TV. The final, was between the only Yokozuna (Grand Champion), Asashouryu (from Mongolia), and a young contender, with a GREAT run during this tournament, Kotoushu (from Bulgaria). They were tied in terms of score at the end of the tournament, so, they had to have a face off. A Sudden-death match. I really wanted the Bulgarian to win, just because he was the underdog. It was about time Asashouryu the Mongolian was taught a lesson or two in Sumo. Unfortunately, I never get lucky whenever I cheer for the underdog. Maybe I should have cheered on Asashouryu, that way, he would have lost because of the draft of bad luck my cheers usually bring. Maybe I am to blame for Bahrain’s Football team’s recent bad performance. Maybe I should cheer Uzbekistan in the upcoming match, and that way, Bahrain would have a shot at being in the World Cup finals next year in Germany. Must think about this one some more.

Afterwards, I got into my Hakama and Obi and ran over to my sword class, looking ALMOST like a genuine modern-day Samurai. I had my sword case thrown over my shoulder, people stared at me on the way, but I didn’t care, I was all business. In class, I tried my best to do everything right. It was a good work out. I think I managed okay.

I’m back in my dorm. Switched on my laptop. Got a couple of surprising phonecalls from my Aunt and Uncle in Chicago, and my parents in Bahrain. Great to hear that everyone is doing fine. I miss my family a lot, but I am here in Japan to try my best, to make my family proud. For now, this is all this Bahraini can do.

For now, I think I will go meet a friend, watch the F1 Race in Brazil over a few snacks and some MILK (yes, I drink milk!). I am planning on having some Kabab at an Irani Restaurant in Roppongi tomorrow. I LOVE IRANI KABAB! I plan on gaining a couple of kilos tomorrow, just for spite