This is all I've learned so far really...besides my own observations. Remember how in Tokyo everything was smaller? Not as true here...there's more room! I can stretch my legs, run around lakes, ponds, woods, gardens... houses are bigger, and sort of have yards! There are spaces between houses too! Whoa! What a luxury...
Riding the Shinkansen north was fun, though nothing epic...probably need a longer trip for speed. Living spaces remained packed for the first 30 minutes out; there were a lot of big apartment buildings that - to a Westerner like me - look like housing projects or Soviet Block Housing. Check it:
But as the ride continued, the workers on the train walked up the isles - bowing as they entered and left a train car - and the density subsided to larger houses with a bit of room. It actually felt like I was going to a foreign country, with the glitz, novelty, noise and narrow spaces that make up Tokyo being left behind.
My co-worker, nicknamed Izzy, met me at Mito station on Sunday. "She'll find you, no problem," I was instructed. There I was, the only non-Japanese in the station inundated with crap: a garment bag, hiking backpack, messenger bag, 41" skateboard, and gift bag containing Tokyo Banana and Chocolate Turtles from Watson's Chocolates in Buffalo!
Izzy found me, and proceeded to assist with signing apartment papers, turning on the power there, and setting up the natural gas to heat the place! The multiple forms in Japanese for 2 of 3 steps, not to mention my lack of Japanese language ability and the gas man's and apartment's lack of english ability made her indispensable in settling in, all with great conversation about travels and international life pursuits.
Then I met the staff at the school - all are top notch. Mark (another Auzzie!!!!! Oye oye oye!!), whom I'm taking over from, assisted me today with trips to the govt. Ward office and Immigration Bureau. I filled out a form at the Immigration Bureau, where they instructed me to go to the convenience store across the street to buy this particular postage stamp for ¥6000 ($73).
Basically, you can't be a resident in Japan and leave Japan to travel again without this special mark in your passport (otherwise you lose the work visa and get deported)...it costs $73 for that mark. So we bought the stamp, but got a snack before returning - the guy from the office called me to make sure we found it, bought the right one, and could find our way back! Such friendly people here... props to Mark and his Japanese ability. Anyway...I filled out the form, bought the stamp, signed a second form, put THIS stamp on, all to get the mark to leave the country a few times...Japan loves paperwork:
Oh, and I didn't get my futon/bed set the first night like my employer said, so I ended up buying one in lieu of taking the train to a hotel. ¥5000 yen, and its worth it, since it's now a 2nd mattress for me, but usable for a slumber party - - come visit me! So I got the company one today and may get reimbursed for the other one. Woot!
Lastly, Mark took me out to have an Okonomiyaki (AKA Japanese Pancake) at this place just a stone's throw away.
They give you the ingredients...
The meat is tuna. Then YOU mix'em up...
And do it up on the grill that's at your table! Awoooot!!
You add this bbq-looking sauce, but sweeter. Then seaweed crumbs, fish slivers, and random powders you can't read and have never had - then voila! It's almost like a garbage plate, to be honest, but with a twist of ingredients and method to making it. Now I'm getting creative...
I already feel at home here. Sure, there's been some looks at the foreigner(s), but smiles and hellos soon after. The friendliness, politeness, and helpfulness are infectious. Now if I can only find the government building where they teach free Japanese lessons...
Oh, and here's the pad! Check Slumber Spots for an updated bed situation:
lovin the blog, will, and glad to see you are just as entertaining through your writing as in person. thanks for letting me in on all of the run-arounds, and newness, and the similiarities, too...this will be my first REAL lesson on Japan...your blog. SO thanks!
ReplyDeleteI think that this 'garbage plate' looks more appetizing than the true version. More pictures, please!
ReplyDelete