Been A While…

November 18, 2010 Been A While…

Hello everyone!

First things first…I’m sorry for the lack of postage. Lots of things have been happening, which means lots of post material, but little time. In the upcoming Day In the Life Of… post, I’ll talk about the average day, which will probably answer a lot of your questions about school and the like. But, until then, I have a few other things to update you on.

A while back, I went on a little day excursion to Tokyo! I went with my LP (AFS Person) and her husband. We took the Shinkansen in, then navigated by taxi and train mostly. The public transportation here is amazing. Always on point, and it will get you anywhere you want to go. Anywhere. The only drawback, is that it can get a little expensive if you use it excessively.

Anyhoo, first, we went to Tokyo Tower, or possibly more accurately, Tokyo Tawa. Pretty cool. I’ve been to my fare share of tall buildings with lookout balconies and the like, but being able to see Tokyo was awesome. I didn’t get pictures from the top, as it was a bit of a cloudy day, but I do have a shot of the tower itself from the ground.

After that, we went out for Italian. After lunch, we walked through a small temple district, and took a taxi to Ginza, where we did some window shopping.  Ginza ia basically a high-end shopping district with lots of brand names and lower-scale stores, like Uniqlo. They have Abercrombie & Fitch here, and from what I’ve heard, it’s pretty popular… Huh.  Here’s Ginza:

From Ginza, we took a taxi to the station, and a train to Akihabara. Akihabara is the geek district of Tokyo. Dubbed “Electric Town” its streets are lined with Electric and appliance shops, and street booths selling DIY materials – wiring, tools, lights, lots of computer things, etc. Also a major otaku hotspot. Karaoke and anime-theme pachinko and slot places are everywhere, as well as the maid cafes. A maid cafe is a cafe where the waitresses are usually cute girls in maid outfits, and they address the customers as “Master.” Needless to say, we didn’t go to one. LOL

Here is Akihabara:

Here’s the Gundam Café, for you otakus out there. I have never seen Gundam, though it’s been on my Watch List for a while. Kind of a genre-defining classic, I guess. Anyway, I figured I’d snap a picture.

So by now it’s getting pretty late, and we head on over to the last thing on the day’s agenda. My LP and her husband had made reservations for dinner on a boat that toured around the bay. We had assorted first courses, and then tempura. We just chilled – eating and floating. The view was great – Tokyo at night from the water. Here’s the table setup before I got the grub on.

 

Here’s a picture of the bay: (Sorry about the picture quality. Night shots with water reflection are really hard to take.)

 

After that, we headed back to the station and hopped back on the Shinkansen. We got back really late, and exhausted. It was an awesome day.

So that was my Tokyo trip. The first since my arrival in Japan. The next should be Christmas, when I go with the host fam to the grandparent’s house. Tell you all about it when it happens!

Hopefully this will be the first in a string of catch-up posts. (I hope.) I am a bit guilty for the post draught lately, so I’ll work a bit harder to keep things constant. That’s all for today, however. Except for a couple long-overdue…SHOUTOUTS!

Hannah & Her-Not-So-Reptile-Roomie-Friend! Thank you so much for the package! Total lifesaver, and The Noble Roomsharer’s contribution and note was much appreciated! All the minty things… (Here, we’re not llowed to chew gum in schol, so I haven’t had the reason to but it or the chance to chew it, so needless to say, I have been experencing some gum-withdrawal symptoms. (The LunchTable can attest to my constant proximity to gum.) So, I ripped right in. And the mint soap…*enter Mrs. Slocum* Ahbsolutley di-vine deahh. Divine. Also, I was very impressed with your cahd, deahh. Very impressed, indeed. So impressed in fact was I, that I composed a slight poem in it’s likeness. It runs like this…

‘Twas brillig, on the second floor

Eri Koeniggu did spin

and spindle in the desk chair:

All eaten were the tasty treats, and the

mome raths outgrabe.

(As you may have been able to deduce, I struggled with the last line. But regahdless, THANK YOU DEAHH. AND MAKE SURE YOU THANK LIZZIE?/LIZZY? ALSO!)

THE Gungle and Ginny! I recieved your Halloween package, and of course devoured everything inside. Perfect timing, too, I might add. I have not yet used the iTunes GC, because I am still scoping out the strangeness that sometimes is the Japanese music market, BUT, I just wanted to say a huge THANK YOU for thinking of me, and I can’t wait to get back and tell you guys everything that’s happening! (And you sent a gummy toungue. Classic. Enough said, haha!)

MaiMai! Loved seeing your comment! I can’t wait to see you to tell you everything! I don’t usually get homesick, but lately I’ve found myself missing the house up in Sandwich. And the food is so good, I have to be carefull that I don’t eat TOO many new experiences, or I’ll be twice my size before I know it! Haha! And, I plan to take more temple photos. The previous ones were taken while everything was still green, but now the trees are changing and it’s so pretty! I’m realizing how lucky I am to be here in a city that has a quite a bit of nature as well. I’ve realized that I’ve taken Boxford and Sandwich a bit for granted.

GRANDPA & GRANDMA COACH! Thank oyu for the card and the news! 25 lbs?! I really don’t know that much about early childhood, but that sounds big! I’ve made some friends here, but mostly girls. The boys are all very shy. VERY shy. Yes, in Japan they celebrate Halloween, but not on the same scale. And they do have pumpkins, but they’re the edible kind. Delicious, but I do miss carving!

ERICA! I think of you ALL the time. (Nottryingtosoundcreepy.) Sometimes, I think of you and our good times discussing Beta, Theta, and their happy Trig Family, and laugh out loud. I actually did today during long homeroom, when everyone was quietly studying. Oops. But I so miss our mutually appreciated and sometimes only mutually understood humor. Oh, and now everytime I see SuperSkinnyHighSchoolBi, I think of you. (his name is Shimada.) Speaking of Bi, he’s (you probs already know this) is acting in a drama currently airing. Fugitive: Plan B. I haven’t started it yet, but if you have, let me know how it is! And I lOVE all of your little story-comments! (The Joon story cracked me up, haha! Funny how conversations take certain turns sometimes…) OH! And when hockey gets going, you have to update me on that as well. I’ve joined a team here, but I still am going to miss the Masco team like crazy. (No updates on the brother, still. Christmas should yield some oppurtunities, though. LOL)

MOLLY! I’m judging that you STILL have not recieved my email. I officially cannot use technology. Either that or I have your email adress saved wrong. Which begs the question why I didn’t just hit reply…Regardless, I will type it out again, and make sure it gets to you properly. But, for now…Yes, applying is quite a poopy thing. I’ve got a first choice, RIT, and University of Illinois also looks pretty good, but I’ve never been there, so kind of a blind date situation going on, you know. College is hard, because there isn’t an absolutely perfect one – they’re all really strong in different areas. If I get accepted to multiple schools, I have no idea how I’m going to choose. And, Ahhhh. The joys of driving. Driving while intoxicated is a no-no, but driving while others are intoxicated will probably be a much more frequent occurance. Whoopee. And that news to me! In Beeks’ room! Brings back memories…I get back in early-to-middle february. Which is when we will DEFINATELY have a welcome back party or GD party or Ellie&TOP Eternal BFF-dom Celebration or something. Oh, the things we shall do… (By the way, here is a WONDERFUL website for all your BB related news: http://ibigbang.wordpress.com/ Enjoy. (TONS of new GD pics. He’s been doing a lot of promoion for GMarket, some fashion/clothing thing. They’re all so clean and GD-y. Enjoy!)

M&D Thank you guys for all the help with applications and the packages! Daddy, the last one was a total hit with the gorp selection, and I have finally seemed to learn how to properly pace myself. AND! The library at school has a tiny English section. Guess which book I’ve recently finished? (Hint: LLLOOOUUIIISSS!) Yes. That’s the one. Perfect for Halloween.

LUNCHTABLE & EX-TABLE MEMBERS Bad news. I won’t be able to webcam. The one my host dad has doesn’t work, and I’m really trying to save money, so I probably won’t be buying one. I know. Hate me. But! Soon I hope I can put a few videos together, so that’s at least a little better than nothing. How has masco been?! Any new table recruits recently? I can’t wait to see you guys AGANE!

MELISSA So even though here, I see characters everywhere and write them everyday, I have forgotten so much Chinese it’s scary! (Don’t tell Li Ai) So I think you guys will definately be teaching me everything all over aagain when I get back.

Ok. That’s it for now. I’ve got to go to hockey practice. (There will be a post on that in the future.) Sorry once again for the lack of postage lately. There will be a lot coming up, so check in every now and then!

 

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Tags: Akihabara, Exchange, Ginza, Japan, Life Abroad, Tokyo Tower

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