So tonight, I decided it was time for something new for my social life. So I exhaustedly trudged across campus to the meeting for the Japanese Association, a big group at UT full of every imaginable kind of person. I really doubted I'd fit in, based on the experiences of my fellow Japanese students with JA, but it seemed like JA came up as the answer to the question, "Where all the Japanese people at?" So off I went, and in I dove. When I showed up at the meeting, things had yet to get going, so I walked up to the circle of interesting-looking people at the front. Big surprise, they're officers. I did the circle introduction thing, and this guy sitting at an iBook stopped and said, "Wait - Blake Ellison?" "Yeah." I gave him a look of complete confusion as to how a guy I'd *just* met knew my last name."I've heard a hell of a lot about you." For the 20th time today, I was at a loss for words. For the first, it wasn't out of a lack of sleep. As it turned out, JA is up to a lot this semester. Tons of festivals and stuff are going down, plus they invented this "family" structure which breaks up the thing into smaller groups of 10-ish people. So, after an hour of being in a room full of vaguely-familiar people who I've had a smattering of classes with, I now belonged to a club and had a family all my own. Why my family is called the 'Takoyaki Ballas' is a very complex joke on Japanese food mixed with hip-hop culture and is probably outside the comprehension of most of my dear readers. After the end of the meeting, I had some 10 new friends and most of the big group migrated to the Korean Culture Night that was going on just underneath the tower. There was comedy, good music, good poetry, and overall some of the best entertainment I've seen in a while. I feel a bit more culturally enlightened for it, too. The only reason I left is it got too damn cold to sit outside to hear the quality stuff I was hearing. So here I am, nice and cozy indoors, and psyched for what lies ahead for the rest of the semester. A few new amigos, new parties to attend, and even a camping trip.As for this weekend, none of that. Just straight-up sleep and work. And sushi.