Orientation day one.

Hello people.

Nothing big to write about. spent most of the day sitting around listening to rules, sitting in a japanese version of the DMV waiting for my alien regestration and then went and bought a couple more things i needed. Came back and a lot of the japanese students were sooking noodles with some beef, i had a bowl and watched some japanese TV. picture follows. More interesting stuff will happen but for this week just orientation and stuff. so yeah. ^_^

EDIT: Decided what classes i'll be taking, Japanese (gotta test into a certan level, so not sure what one yet) Karatedo, Japanese conversation, and Japanese art & culture.


~tim

Tim goes to a festival, mall and it's hot.

Hi people.

Today i woke up and looked out side to find a festival right outside of my building being set up in the adjacent park. it was only being set up so i read a book about japanese etiquette, it was about 4:30 am. my roomate, dylan, and i went to the festival and did a few things, saw a few things and took free stuff that was shoved into our hands, now i am well stocked in tissues with packaging for places and things i won't goto or buy... (pictures of the festival will follow with discriptions) At the festival there were a few neat things like a stage with preformers, a lot of good food, and some kiddy attractions. but the thing i found most interesting was probably the truck that simulates a 7-level earthquake. it made me realize that if one hit i would me SOL and i REALLY hope one anywhere near that big does hit... kinda frightens me, they can REALLY shake if that simulation was correct. also it was hot. Really hot. i miss cold.

We came back cooled off and went to the mall. (a good 3.5-4 mile walk round trip) I had a good attempt at speaking well with a store clerk and didn't even have to use any jap-english failed-attempts at words. i was able to ask if he had big sandals, he asked how big and i said 32. and he told me that the biggest size they carry is 28. Also seemed kindof suprised i asked. Finding a pair of sandals will probably not happen here. walked back, and i had already gone through enough laundry surprisingly (maybe) to require a laundry run.

Nothing interesting eaten today, just a hotdog on a stick at the festival in the morning, and a ham, lettuce and egg salad sammich for dinner (this are EVERYWHERE and are amazing!) i will post pictures and discriptions of interesting dishes but so far i've not really gone too far out of my shell in that respect, mostly because i have no idea where to go yet, orientation is tomorrow and hopefully that will shed some light on everything. yeah.

PIKTORS:
Festival we went to, idk what that sais. someone who reads japanese or has a kanji dictionary please do it for me, k thanks.

The Earthquake simulator. It was rough. 

There was a concert band that preformed along with some other acts across the day, they played arrangements of carmen, sound of music, and something i didn't recognise but sounded like a pop song for sure.

It sais what you think it sais "hot cake milk shake" it was like a sweet yoo-hoo. a perfectly refreshing drink i bought in a vending machiene in 110 degree heat half way through our looooong walk to the mall. i r smrt.

more pics from the festival to follow. 

All done. Will probably not blog daily, but close to daily. 

~tim