two weeks ago, my roommates and i were invited to a birthday bash. it was a good thing being around lots of people who speak the same language as you do. but you just need to be cautious of what you say since everybody understands. living in a foreign country, we have already developed a mindset -- speak whatever you want in your own language, they won't be able to understand it anyway... it is even funny that we speak Cebuano (a language spoken in Cebu, Philippines) packed together with some sign language and the Japanese still understands them. actions surely do speak louder than words, this i have come to acknowledge.
the celebrant was actually from a competitor company so you may wonder how we got along. of course we were students before we became young professionals, and friends part ways during employment. you get the picture right??? back home, a scenario like this may be awkward. but here in Japan, you will be happy just being with your countrymen. and as i've said everybody understands what you are saying so be wary. you can't just drop any side comments and get away with it. so here i am trying to fit in to a jigsaw puzzle: fit in nicely, that is. creating bonds that i hope would last and would not tarnish.
the food was great. though every food tastes great to a non-cooker, these can be compared to a chef's. i have never imagined that you can do this much and this tasty in a country where all the ingredients are spelled in a different way. i really had my time in the dining area. this was heaven compared to my slave-like life -- eating my heart out with food you didn't work hard for. a feast like this would have cost me a week's allowance but here it was offered right in front of me. yum yum... tasty! and here comes the cake (how could a birthday have none)... wow!!! ice cream cake on a winter's night. sumptuous!!!
after dinner, we were on our own camps (competitor companies remember!). though we were from the same island in the Philippines, our culture was definitely different. no need to expound on this but yeah our mean selves surfaced: we were thinking of mean things towards the other camp. my mates talked mean and i agreed (evil me!)... wahihihihi.
then there goes the main dish, whiskey and vodka... woaaah... shots came after shots and the camps fused playing charades... shots came after shots and people were now leaning on each other--it is just hard to stand on two feet... leaning-tower-of-pisa-people sprouted one after another. restrooms and sinks slowly crowded. no wonder most 'miracles' happen when drunk; people's words slipped after another. pent up emotions, disappointments, words intended for close buddies overflowed... inhibitions lost... too much drama is in the air as the room turned into a hot dance floor. shots after shots and people fell. only the strong were left... shots after shots and i'm still taking them... what??? you mean, am i this strong of a drunkard?? ows... the first time i drank was here in Japan and that was like a year ago... am i that strong now???? what an excellent student i was. ows... i should stop this act soon...
as people vanished, the few strong once remained. no more drinking though but clean up time is here... here i am surprised by my intoxicated acts, ordered everyone around... go sleep now, go and find that lost girl, go and calm her down, stop disturbing her, get out of here and find somewhere else to sleep, so concerned of everyone. waaaaah... so fatherly... why was i not like this when drunk at home? i only laughed to my heart's extent when at home, but here i am surprised as my roommates were, showed a different side. i never knew that i can be like this. but as surprised as i am with myself, same was it with them...
morning came and yeah we talked it out. we laughed at each others behavior. but still i was in awe with everything.
no wonder...
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