Misawa Living: An introduction to Gloom.

It was the last night of my trip to Japan. I was sad and already feeling far away from R and the new and exciting land I had fallen in love with. We were on our way home from the mall and I saw a shopping center I had my eye on all week. I had been hesitant to go in at first because he had never been there either. (He's my guide! He NEEDS to be in the know!) Being the super adventurous people we are, we ventured in. We walked around for a bit just to scope the place out and ran into an arcade in the middle. Now, let me tell you, arcades in Japan are serious business. They are ridiculously cute, addictive fun, and the prizes are way cooler. Plus you actually, you know, win stuff. (Unlike here in the States where it's impossible to win and the prizes suck anyway.)

Examples of things you spend way too much on but actually win.

All was normal and well until we stumbled upon the cutest prize ever. A little bear dripping blood from his cute little muzzle and giant claws. Doesn't sound cute you say? Well.

The Pink One was the first won, followed a few days later by Fluffy here.

They're pretty darn cute. Unfortunately, we had run out of time and yen. The store was closing, and I'm not one to be a rude American, so we left and I said a sad goodbye to my bear in the machine. The next day, I said a sad goodbye to Japan. Weeks past, but my mind still occasionally wondered to my un-won bear. The morning of my birthday, my noob sent me an email. It was a picture of my little pink bear on his couch! Being the sweetheart he is, he went back and won it for me. Since then, my collection has grown considerably. Even R's friend has gotten in on the action and won me a bear. (He's a cool dude. Obviously.)

From left to right: Snowball of Doom, The Pink One, Ninja, Fluffy, and Hard Candybear. 

I later learned the official name of these bears are Gloomy Bears and some are pretty collectable. (It seems like so much in Japan is!) I love them! They're new, different, and exciting to me, just like the place where they sit patiently waiting for my arrival.

I'll get to see them very soon.

Right now I sit writing this on a warm night in Houston. I'm here visiting family before I leave and it's hard not knowing when I'll get to see them again. My whole life they've been a (kind of) short drive away. In a few short weeks, I'll be across the planet.

This Texas girl is going to Japan ya'll. And you're coming with me.

If you're interested in following my adventures in Japan, please follow my Misawa living blog at Meetmeinmisawa.blogspot.com.