It snowed in Tokyo today. After a while it turned to rain, creating a nice slush all over the ground perfect for playing the “try not to slip and die” game.
I’ve noticed that Americans aren’t the only ones who go retarded when using a cell phone. Walking through the train stations the last few days, I’ve been slowed down any number of times by people looking at their cell phones instead of keeping up the pace.
The local Jusco sells some really good tortilla chips (made in Belgium of all places) but is definitely lacking in the salsa department. The only place I’ve seen salsa (and peanut butter) is Nissin. Even they didn’t have much to choose from. I’ll have to check out National Azabu. Speaking of Jusco, while browsing their tiny pizza/cheese area of the store, I came upon a “pizza crust.” I shit you not, it was a tortilla.
I’ve been dying for some good pizza lately so I decided to cave in and picked up a small frozen pizza for dinner today. It wasn’t too bad. It didn’t exactly taste wonderful, but not any worse than the small frozen pizzas I’ve had in the US. Tomorrow, since I’m out of school early, I think I’ll do a little real cooking and fire up an omelet.
Luckily I’ve had very little homework so far. Had to finish a short essay I began in class the other day, and I’ve got a rough draft of an essay due tomorrow morning. That’s it really, but I expect it to pick up as the semester moves along.
I had my first day of classes yesterday; math and English. My English class is very small (15 people) while my math class is large (by TUJ standards; 40 people). I like my math teacher and I think he’ll do a good job making math fun and easy to learn. He told us if we show up without a calculator on Thursday that he would make fun of us. If we are without one next Tuesday, he will resort to physical violence. I really hate writing projects, so I doubt I’ll enjoy English much. Luckily there aren’t many books I need to buy so far; I have yet to go to Japanese class or Music studies yet.
After school I went to Shibuya and got a new phone, a calculator and set up a bank account with Shinsei. It’s very easy to do everyday things like these since just about every place in popular areas like Shibuya have english speaking staff. Unfortunately, I haven’t been anywhere else in the city just yet, but I think I might go down to Yokohama this weekend to just be by the ocean for a little while. It’s very strange never seeing the end of the city. Everywhere you look it’s just more and more buildings. Since Tokyo Tower is near school I plan to check that out soon as well.
Today was my first full day in Japan, and here are some things I’ve noticed so far:
There are very few trash cans on the streets of Tokyo, and when you do finally find one, it’s usually for cans or glass only. In Japan you must separate your garbage; combustible, non-combustible, plastic bottles, cans and glass.
Bathrooms rarely have anything to dry your hands with. Narita airport had air dryers, but I have yet to see them or paper towels anywhere in Tokyo. Including at the dorm.
Face masks: not just for hay fever. People here wear them whenever they are sick. In fact, I bought some from the 100 yen store today since I’m still a bit under the weather. One ride on the Yamanote line during morning rush hour and you’ll understand why.
On the plane from San Francisco, after about the 6th or 7th hour, and then again today while I was sitting in the classroom during orientation, I started thinking “why the hell am I doing this?” It’s tough. It’s not at all like I expected. Sure there are a few cultural idiosyncrasies you know about before arriving, but living it is somehow a little less exciting. I guess I really had hyped it up for myself over the years.
But then tonight, as we were walking back to the dorm from the train station, I felt it. Walking down the quiet streets at night, the song Sakura softly playing from speakers throughout the shopping area near the station, the light drizzle, the small shops filled with smiling faces and warm greetings… This is what I was looking for.
