日本町
Day one in SF! Thanksgiving Break!
Almost missed the bus by a minute or two; luckily there was a long line (and thus a lot of baggage for the driver to take care of) because I wouldn't have made it in time without it. I didn't have any trouble with TSA screening either, to be completely honest. There was a bit of confusion when the agents were trying to signal me away from the cool sci-fi like full body scanners and into the regular metal scanners instead, sparing me of the experience of being seen through completely, for once. I suppose I don't look very threatening to these people. Perhaps this is one of the pros of being 4'10" that I should add to my list?
I sure think those scanners seem a lot better than pat downs, though.
On the other hand, lady luck of traveling wasn't completely on my side, as I was seated in the very last row (yes, the one next to the lavatory) and in between three (yes, three) young children, one of which was very loud.
This is where patience came in, though, and between the first 75 pages of the second half of Norwegian Wood, a complementary cookie, and my handy-dandy canal earbuds, I was surprisingly zen throughout the entire flight, even when the kid kept bawling throughout the entire descent. (Also helping my situation was the fact that just last week, I attended a lecture on the hearing organs, and learned that children's ear canals are much more susceptible to pressure change pain, and have no way to get rid of it easily, so I could sympathize the kid much easier this time than before.)
Met up with Aunty who took me (in her stylish Porsche, mind you) to Japantown, which in my opinion somehow seems more Japanese than Japan itself. It doesn't make much sense, but I think It may be because it's so concentrated and over exaggeratedly Japanese. I did enjoy the 100 yen store (which, given the current exchange rate, turned out to be a $1.50 store) and Kinokuniya, where I bought...you guessed it, more books. This time, Isaka Koutaro, Yoshimoto Banana, and a half-off study guide for the JLPT.
We had a napoleon dessert, which was a tarty rectangle topped with various fruits. While the service they gave us at the shop wasn't quite so courteous or efficient (eliciting a few choice comments from Aunty, who is not afraid to tell people it how it is), I do admit it was pretty delicious.
After a thorough re-tour and explanation of the very posh apartment condo Aunty lives in, I am currently settled in and occupying the Moroccan room. It's like staying at a hotel, but nicer! (I watched a large portion of the music awards on the awesome HD flat screen TV here in this room.) Tomorrow, I'm on my own for most of the day, so I'll be searching for interesting things around the area. (AKA shopping and taking pictures of the city!)
Almost missed the bus by a minute or two; luckily there was a long line (and thus a lot of baggage for the driver to take care of) because I wouldn't have made it in time without it. I didn't have any trouble with TSA screening either, to be completely honest. There was a bit of confusion when the agents were trying to signal me away from the cool sci-fi like full body scanners and into the regular metal scanners instead, sparing me of the experience of being seen through completely, for once. I suppose I don't look very threatening to these people. Perhaps this is one of the pros of being 4'10" that I should add to my list?
I sure think those scanners seem a lot better than pat downs, though.
On the other hand, lady luck of traveling wasn't completely on my side, as I was seated in the very last row (yes, the one next to the lavatory) and in between three (yes, three) young children, one of which was very loud.
This is where patience came in, though, and between the first 75 pages of the second half of Norwegian Wood, a complementary cookie, and my handy-dandy canal earbuds, I was surprisingly zen throughout the entire flight, even when the kid kept bawling throughout the entire descent. (Also helping my situation was the fact that just last week, I attended a lecture on the hearing organs, and learned that children's ear canals are much more susceptible to pressure change pain, and have no way to get rid of it easily, so I could sympathize the kid much easier this time than before.)
Met up with Aunty who took me (in her stylish Porsche, mind you) to Japantown, which in my opinion somehow seems more Japanese than Japan itself. It doesn't make much sense, but I think It may be because it's so concentrated and over exaggeratedly Japanese. I did enjoy the 100 yen store (which, given the current exchange rate, turned out to be a $1.50 store) and Kinokuniya, where I bought...you guessed it, more books. This time, Isaka Koutaro, Yoshimoto Banana, and a half-off study guide for the JLPT.
We had a napoleon dessert, which was a tarty rectangle topped with various fruits. While the service they gave us at the shop wasn't quite so courteous or efficient (eliciting a few choice comments from Aunty, who is not afraid to tell people it how it is), I do admit it was pretty delicious.
After a thorough re-tour and explanation of the very posh apartment condo Aunty lives in, I am currently settled in and occupying the Moroccan room. It's like staying at a hotel, but nicer! (I watched a large portion of the music awards on the awesome HD flat screen TV here in this room.) Tomorrow, I'm on my own for most of the day, so I'll be searching for interesting things around the area. (AKA shopping and taking pictures of the city!)