Japan through my eyes

I finally got a copy of Cosmic Encounter, thanks to H for bringing it back from America.  I had heard a lot of amazing reviews about this game, so had a lot of high expectations. Once I opened the box, I was in awe of the amazing components.  The alien space ships were great, everything was beautifully packaged.   The board pieces were so beautiful.  Bringing the game out on game night was so easy. We played one round Cosmic Encounter first, and it only took a few rounds to get into the game.  We didn't use any flares just as the instructions recommended for new players.  It was a lot of fun.  I was a Parasite!!! and it took me half the game to work out that I was the weird snail thing, on top of the Pacifist's head.  It was quite hilarious.  The parasite is awesome the cool looking alien on the cover of the box.  What a coincidence.  There was a lot of ganging up on the player who seemed to be winning, and it was great.  We all invited everyone to join our alliances, and

Panic!  Panic!  There's a Virus on my shelf in the form of a board game, and it's called Pandemic, and it's infected my brain with it's board gamey addictiveness.  Yes there is a game called Cranium, and one called Pandemic... I've started up my old hobby from Oz, rock climbing, and board games have taken up the other part of my brain.  Exercise for my brain and body.  Perfect!  Now to find people to play with... .1 minute later ... yah I found a handful :) plus 40 more. Last year (in Japan), I really didn't do much socialwise.  I came home and lesson planned, and on the weekend more planning, and cleaning house and the like.  But this year I've decided I need to make time to do things I enjoy, get out, make new friends, less facebooking, join the living, and start doing things that I would in Australia.  I guess I was treating Japan like limbo/still like I was a temporary visitor.  But I've lived here long enough.  I should really LIVE here, and act