Christmas Eve

So, yesterday a friend of mine who is also studying in Japan came to Kyoto. We both wanted to have a more "portuguese" christmas and he was planning on coming here anyway so he decided to come by this time.

I was very happy. He came with some classmates (all from different nationalities) with I'm also "kinda" friends with. The same does not happen with japanese people. I'm guessing it is because I don't have a person I trust with me on a daily basis, the feeling of security ank kind of knowing that if something goes wrong you have someone to talk to, someone that will remove that tension from you. Here in Japan I don't have that. I'm always by myself. I felt so stronger when I was with my friend...

And here we are, it couldn't get any more Portuguese than this. Friendship, Trust, Loyalty. FUN! ENERGY!

We went to see Kyoto a bit. Then we met one of my friend's classemate's friends. And we all went to eat out.

I could notice several things in their behavior. And in mine, of course. I noticed that most of them had a really "loosen" behavior, they felt very comfortable. I too was like that, but I somehow am more controlled in my gestures and way of speaking. We were speaking in japanese. If I spoke portuguese I would be even more loose. 

I talked to talked so much yesterday that I woke up with a sick headache this morning, that pretty much disappeared after easting breakfast. And NO, I DO NOT DRINK (only with very, very special people), so you can exclude hangover. It was the first real social happy interaction I've had in months and I'm guessing my brain is not used to it anymore.

According to some friends, I'm with a "Bitch Please" (internet meme) face, lol! Looking at this picture below, Samantha Jones comes to my mind. 

But beware. We are just friends! Not lovers! Apparently people in Japan always assume "lovers" when they see a "couple", "boy and girl". But that is not the case. I have many boy friends and we go out often, but that does not make us "lovers". Just like I have many girl friends, and we go out often as a pair, but that does not make us "lovers". I love them yes, but not in a romantic way. I love them as friends. 

In Portugal we hug friends very, very often. The way we kiss each other is with a kiss on the cheeks (man/woman, woman/woman. Man/man is with a handshake or hug), so as you can see we have no problem with physical contact. Here in Japan everyone is so sensible to physical touch that, well, it's kind of awkward. I too have become sensible, but only with asian people.

Now on drinking. When I'm with portuguese friends I don't drink. It is not necessary, I don't like drinking and I don't need alcohol to have fun. Actually I kinda enter in a "alcoholic state of mind" without drinking. I don't know how this happens, but I'm guessing its just some kind of compensation my brain does. In fact, the first time I ever drank alcohol was here, in Japan. I only drink in Japan because people insist so much! I'm sick of it! IF I DON'T WANT TO DRINK, I WILL NOT DRINK! UNLIKE YOU I LIKE MY BRAIN CELLS VERY MUCH! And I don't want to make myself look stupid or say stupid things. I had a Japanese acquaintance who was very pushy and it kind of irritated me, but I would just drink so that he would shut up. Needless to say it was a very constraining moment for me. I was doing something I didn't like, pretending I liked it, and just bearing with it for hours. IT SUCKS. I Could have been using my time in much better ways. My Portuguese friends never never push knowing I don't drink, and Portuguese people like drinking. Real friends don't make friends do things they don't like or don't feel comfortable with!

The only person I would eventually drink with would be a lover or again, very, very close friends in special occasions such as Christmas or New year's or some kind of more fancy dinner. Other than that no thanks. And I only like two kinds of alcoholic drinks (chuhai and some other I forgot the name, both very sweet in flavor) But again as I said, I don't want to drink. I'm not interested, it has no effect on me.

[EDIT] OMG, I just realized the reason why I probably am not "coping" that much with the japanese. I think it is because I know - I studied and observed it and analyze it, and still continue doing it - and respect their culture and don't want to behave as a portuguese. Or can't. Because I too enter in their state of being. Just like it happened during a presentation I had some days ago. It was depressing. But I know that if I am not myself I will not have fun and would rather be alone. And I also know that if I am myself they will probably feel hurt in some way and I don't want that to happen. [/EDIT]

So, today is Christmas, again! Please continue having a Merry Christmas and lots of "family" (or group) love and fun! After all, Christmas is to be spent with family (and people you consider as family such as close friends), from my point of view at least.