Anime Expo 2008 reflections, Part 1

I am breaking this blog into pieces. Here we go.

Anime Expo 2008 reflections, Part 1:

Day 0

Well, they didn't see this coming.

I came into Anime Expo 2008 understanding a few given things: a new registration system, faster lines, less worries, Shoko-tan, photos filled to capacity on my cell phone, the first time that it will be at the Los Angeles Convention Center, Jyukai, Shoko-tan, a giant Totoro rolling around the hall, the Downtown LA atmosphere proving to be tempting, cosplayers, and lots of fans drenching in sun, sweat, and love. Did I forget to mention Shoko-tan?

No I didn't. I just mentioned her three times in that last paragraph. Anyway, I was in my third year going through the process as a esteemed staffer. And so it began. I took the Metro Blue Line to the 7th Street MEtro Center/Julian Dixon Station, and walked up Figueroa Street to the Westin Bonaventure to drop my bags before making a 20-minute walk down Figueroa to the Concention Center. Later that day, my legs would give out due to the fact that I would be walking back to the Convention Center a second time. Bloody DASH F. Mou...

As I made my way through the halls, understanding which room would host where, I checked in, picked up some specially-designed swag, as they call it, and got to work patrolling the lines, preparing the booths with a Totoro forest theme, and proceeded to 4 1/2 days of having "Sorairo Days" and all that Shoko-tan scriptures being ingrained in my psyche, all the while making sure that there was order as the attendees scanned and went.

Later at the All-Staff meeting, I gained a couple of plushies and a new hat. Me and my folks on my team chased our manager, LIz Wang, around West Hall B, also known as Live Programming 1 for the convention.

That was Day 0.

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Day 1

Day 1 was a bit of a different story.
The good news was that I got some mascot plushies. The bad news was: they weren't the twins. Those would not be out until next year due to some defects in the design. Instead, I got the cat and bunny mascot plushies. They would be my puppets, and when things really got boring, a little make-out session didn't hurt anyone.

At the Exhibit Halls, pacing around hither and thither, I got to work of taking cosplay photos, some which are already posted on my deviantART page. I had to be done. I had a NOKIA ready to go, and go it did. My deviantions were also posted on the dA kiosk, so that was nice to see.

The funny thing about the day was that my squad's first shift was not until 12:00 p.m. Four hours was an eternity in my book. Thanks to the other squads, as well as the temporary workers there, we were on our way.

Some props from my on Day 1:
* Ethan Nguyen (Assistant Manager, AX Reg 08) as Totoro: harcord work.
* Richard Kong, one of the folks who I roomed with, bought this huge Haruhi dakimakura (which was priced at $35-cheap!). I had to take a photo of it, and tuck it into the sheets. Later that night, he placed it with the rest of the luggage.
* Westin's food: thumbs up. Aramark's food (at the Kentia Hall's Tradewinds Cafe): all fours with a bowed head (a la orz).

My eyes soon became red as I got back to my room, and
I fell into a huge sleep. Damn. I was only two days into my five days of fun, and already I was feeling the aftermath of it.

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