Why it's easy to fall in love with this place...

I had to go into work this morning on a Saturday. Which sucks.

My head was swirling and my body was aching from the alcohol and sleep deprivation of last night. Which sucks much more.

After class I took a walk down the hill to the conbini near school to buy lunch and a vitamin drink, and because I spent more than 700 yen the clerk told me I could try my luck in a quick raffle-drawing for a prize. And here is where Japan is a quirky, but in the end, wonderful country. There were two types of raffles: one labeled "For alcohol prizes" and one labeled "Other than alcohol prizes". It makes sense--in Japan it is alcohol and everything else.

Being that it was 11AM and I was still feeling the drinks from last night, I opted for the "Other than alcohol prizes" raffle.

You know what I won?

Somehow I won a beer anyway. I looked at the winning ticket in disbelief. I had specifically drawn from the non-alcoholic raffle, but I guess Japan was telling me to drink, and to drink early and often and free.

I told the store clerk I had to go back to work and didn't need the beer. She looked at me inquisitively, like, What does "work" and "not needing a beer" have to do with each other? But she acquiesed and let me draw again.

This time I won a 198 yen coffee.

Thanks Japan.

It really is the little things.