...karaoke was a lie

This year I was in Japan on my birthday. Why? Because to be quite honest, I wanted to get away from home on that day. The older I get the more I start to despise my birthday. Yes, I realize how cliche it sounds but honestly, it's just such a hassle! Not to mention that since most of my friends are all over the place, it would be quite difficult to actually have a party and invite everyone I wanted. And I really don't like to make a big deal of it. So, to make things easier for myself I decided to leave the country altogether and see what Japan has in store for me.

Since we wanted to have a big reunion party anyway, we decided to combine parties and have a big celebration on Saturday, the 21st. I was all up for it because that meant I didn't have to be the center of attention but I could still enjoy an awesome party. Perfect! Our double-birthday-reunion-graduation party took place in our old neighborhood, just a few steps from the apartment building we used to live at. Sure, none of us lived there anymore and we all had to take the train back after the party but there was no other place we wanted to do it. It wouldn't have been right. So for old times' sake we headed to Shiogamaguchi to have our party.

The evening started as usual: we had some drinks, some food, had a nice long chat with everybody. I got to meet people I hadn't seen for two years and it was absolutely amazing. It really felt like I'd gone back in time because everything was so simple. Like no time had passed at all. For a few hours we were just sitting around, enjoying each other's company and toasting to our birthday people, graduates and to our reunion. As our time in the bar was coming to a close, it was time to head to karaoke, as we always did on these occasions.

I guess I didn't mention that the place we were celebrating at was a bar/tavern. The drinks were great and the food wasn't too shabby either but after two hours I felt like some snacks wouldn't hurt. As we were walking out of the bar Ophelie, my friend from France, decided that she desperately wanted a cheese nan. See, our old neighborhood had this amazing Indian restaurant with authentic Indians as owners, cooks and servers. The curry was good, the samosas delicious but the nan bread... It was just to die for! I've never had nan as good as that in my life (granted, I've never been to India, so....)! Especially their cheese nan - a soft round bread filled with delicious melted cheese. Mmmmmm.... cheese.... Anyway, before I knew it Ophelie had grabbed my hand and was running toward the restaurant. I, in turn, grabbed Tytti, who was just at the right place at the right time, and we made a mad dash to the restaurant, which was - surprisingly enough - still open.

I feel like they were just about to close because the place was completely devoid of customers as we burst through the door. Only the cooks and servers were standing around the counter, giving us an inquisitive look as we scooted closer to them, giggling and trying to seem sober (and probably failing at it). We asked if we could get some cheese nan to go and they were kind enough to fire up the stove and oblige. As we were waiting, one of the guys at the counter turned to us and asked us (in Japanese) 'Hey, weren't you guys here two years ago?'

I was shocked - and quite giddy - at that. They remembered us? Sure, we used to frequent the place but that had been two years ago! And I'm sure they'd seen enough foreigners during that period since it was so close to the apartment where both Chukyo and Meijo University exchange students lived. How did they remember us? I mean, sure, I used to go pretty crazy there. I remember one time Tytti and I had an extra nan with our curry and were basically dying laughing as we ate it. Why? Because by the time I'd taken the first bite I knew it was too much and I couldn't possibly finish it but the Northern European in me refused to waste food (even if I had gotten it for free) and so I was just stuffing it in, trying to ignore the pain in my abdomen and the urge to throw up. And I think Tytti felt the same thing. We were both suffering but we just couldn't show it or give up... And for us that was hilarious. But yeah, I didn't expect them to remember us. It was unexpectedly sweet but definitely strange. Two years! 

We explained that we'd been studying abroad two years ago and talked about random stuff while they were making the nan and when they were ready we ran to catch up with the others... which was easier than we thought because they were in still the store a few meters away. The whole group moved to the car-wash/karaoke place (because why wouldn't you karaoke while getting your car washed! Oh, Japan, you so crazy!) and got a big room where we all would fit. A bunch of us crowded into the elevator and headed to the room... only to realize that we had no idea which room was ours... because the person with the receipt wasn't with us... Logic! 

Thankfully the car-wash-karaoke was small enough that we ran into the others as  we exited the elevator and soon enough we were set up in a cozy little room with our snacks and our cheese nan and we were singing all our old favorites. 'Bohemian Rhapsody' is always a fun one, 'I''ll make a man out of you' gets everybody pumped, 'Don't stop believing' is a classic that everybody can sing along to and... 'Thrift shop'? Yeah, sure, why not - because everybody knows the lyrics to 'Thrift shop', right? As always karaoke was a lot of fun. People were dancing, screaming their lungs our singing and just having the time of their lives and so was I. I'd forgotten how much I missed this. Nobody felt shy or awkward singing in front of others and everybody was singing their heart out. I was full of life and full of energy and just loving it.

So, how was it a lie, you might ask.

Well... The thing is... when you're with your friends and slightly tipsy (read: drunk) and you're singing songs that you love, you feel like everything is perfect... and you think you sound awesome... Well, this time Mary recorded some of our karaoke, for the memories. And honestly... listening to the recording the next day was... painful. It's a hard to describe but it was hilariously bad. Like a group of rabid cats danging tap on metal barrels... while trying to play an out of tune violin... It was so bad I couldn't stop laughing after hearing it. Did we really sound like that? Yes. Yes, we did. In karaoke you feel like a superstar! You feel like you know all the lyrics and you sound just like the original singer! Like everything is amazing! Aaaaand then you hear yourself when you're sober and alone and you realize that there's a reason you never sing in front of a crowd. It doesn't take away from the memory: I still had a great time and I regret nothing. I just know now that no matter how well I think I sing, karaoke is a lie. It's kind of like mass hypnosis: if everyone believes they're singing well then it will sound like it... until you're faced with the harsh reality... 

Still, I have to say that it was an awesome birthday party. I remember walking back from the train station after leaving the karaoke place, spraining my ankle, getting some snacks and then just hanging out on a little public balcony with Mary. We were laughing about... something. I can't even remember what but it was hilarious. I didn't even mind the pain in my ankle... And I remember thinking: man, I wish I could be in Japan for every one of my birthdays from now on. Well, who knows - considering my track record I might wind up in Japan again someday... maybe even next year.