Another Confession


I read some more Nana, and it was a mistake. It just gets more and more heartbreaking, and though I couldn't help but read until the very latest scanned volume (chapter 58 of book 16), nothing at all gets resolved, in my opinion.


After lots more crying, I ate my dinner, listened to the rain, and got a phone call from Phil. Reading alone had sucked me into the colorful and crazy Nana world, and I had actually forgotten that many people lead happy, simple, calm lives, not riddled with one tragic event after another. I was happy to get pulled out of it.


I'll admit it. When I'm in an unhappy mood, I often turn to shoujo manga for release into super happy worlds. I treasure the happy stories in my heart and am encouraged by them to go on. Nana started off as one of those but has turned out so suprising and different. But maybe I need to start relying on these stories less to make me happy. Instead perhaps I need to be more concerned about creating my happiness in the space around me, taking up new activities, meeting more people, cherishing the friends I already have. It's funny, because it seems like something Komatsu Nana would say.

Major major update post!


Here are some pictures from Senior Ball:





Phil and I rode the T to the formal. It has long been a dream of mine to go to a formal by subway.





Phil and I didn't actually match in hue, but the lighting made us look so. Other fun times from that weekend included a picnic at Boston Commons and dinner at Blue Fin followed by bubble tea.





Also, doesn't Phil have good taste in flowers?





That weekend was also my first Steer Roast (spring MIT tradition of dressing outlandishly, roasting lots of meat, and other activities too.) Here's Margaret, Janet, me, and Victoria.





The most fire I've seen in my life.


Then came exams, and the finishing of my thesis. I also wrote a paper, with which i was quite happy, on the "modern girl" who appeared heavily in popular art of Japan in the 1920's.


Then this past weekend I went to Anime Boston, spending the morning with Marj and Jon, and the evening with Victoria and Lindy. The music videos were a treat, as was walking around in the booths with anime wares. But my favorite was just walking around and seeing the great variety of costumes.





This boy looked amazingly like Sasuke. And even Sasuke's true age! Though you can't see it here because of his fierce combat expression, this boy is one of the cutest I've seen in my life. Additionally, when I asked if I could take his picture, he had the sweetest smile while he drew out his shuriken.





Marj and I. Jon's camera takes cool pics.





Victoria and I with Link.





Shinigami from Bleach, shopping at the Prudential Center ^__^.





The night ended with pretty lights and glowsticks, dancing to music that progressed from anime openings to trance. And sore feet until I changed out of my boots to flip flops.


That weekend, I also went to karaoke with Tara and we both successfully sang songs in Japanese ^_^





I have been patiently waiting to read the US releases of NANA as they come out, so the other day I picked up a copy of the newly released volume 3. I finished it, but the ending (and subsequent endings) needed resolution so I caved and downloaded more online-- up to Volume 8 >_<. Oooooh, it is so good! Brief summary for those who don't know--- it's about two girls named Nana who meet on a train while they move to Tokyo. They're very different but end up rooming together and becoming best friends. But let me warn you that it is not for the faint of heart. The two main character's relationship woes and heartbreaks are written so vividly that they feel like my own--- I even cry as if they are my own. I am reading slowly and thoroughly and Yazawa Ai is impressing me so much with the personality that she infuses in each of her characters. The two Nana's are such good friends to each other, which warms my heart. I also strongly identify with Komatsu Nana, as many other girls do too, I am sure. I just love love Yazawa Ai's work so much and must say that I have even before her work became that popular here.


I found out that I will be living in a double like Ashdown. Definitely not my first choice, but after reading NANA, I am thinking that it might turn out to be fun ^_^.