3rd day in Sendai (aka the longest journal entry EVER)
I know it's been a while, but the past couple days were super super busy!
On Wednesday morning we traveled from Tokyo to Sendai via shinkansen - which was totally awesomer than I expected. It was like watching Japan in fast-forward. The countryside is quite beautiful. It kind of made me wish I was placed in the country side.... UNTIL I GOT TO SENDAI!
We arrived in the midst of the tanabata festival. HUGE amazing and detailed streamers hang everywhere from bamboo shoots. It is a celebration of these two stars (hoshi) lovers that are seperated by the milkyway galaxy. Every year they are allowed to "see eachother" and thus.. the festival to celebrate their love. People come from all parts of Japan to see this festival. There are parades, parades, and more parades. If people have a talent, it's showcased here. The downside is that it's sooooooooooo crowded.
This entry could go on forever... but I should keep it brief since I'm hijacking my neighbors wireless (don't worry - I'll be getting my own internet soon... hopefully by the end of the month).
The day after we arrived we met our advisors (the Japanese Teachers of English). My advisor i super awesome and the most helpful person I've ever met. She helped me move my luggage into my apartment... open a bank account... buy a cell phone... shop for food... install a light in my apartment.... shop for necessities at the homegoods store (like pillows, laundry detergent...etc) - ALL in the same day! She even taught me how to eat cold soba noodles.
Needless to say, after the first day... I was exhausted. The first thing I did in my new apartment was take a long... long bath. The bathtubs here are really short, however they are a LOT deeper than western-style tubs. So even though I had to fold my knees to my chest... they were still completely covered by water.
My apartment is really really small. It's probably 15% bigger than my bedroom back home. It really has the essentials for living and nothing more. I'm not complaining... it just takes some getting used to. For example, when I'm cooking... I want to put something on the counter - there is no counter. There is no space to put anything really. I have used the bottom of the sink as counter space. The bathroom situation is unique too. The shower/tub is raised off the ground pretty high - and opens directly in front of the washing machine. The washing machine is in the kitchen. The toilet is in a separate room next to the washing machine (are you following? lol. Don't worry, I'll post photos soon). I'm actually almost too large for the toilet room. My knees touch the wall.
There is a sink built into the toilet (on the top). So after you flush, the water comes from the top and you wash your hands. Genius!
I learned that Japan recycles nearly everything. It's a GOVERNMENT program. It's also mandatory. You don't just throw things away willy-nilly either. You have to purchase special bags (2 different kinds) and sort your trash appropriately. You can't even buy other types of garbage bags. There are only 2 kinds in a few different sizes. That's it. You have to put out certain trash on certain days. It's a lot to think about when you just want to throw something away... but I have to say I'm impressed. I really like that people are forced to recycle. There are also next to zero trash cans outside. People don't eat and drink as they walk around because there is nowhere to throw your trash away. You know what that leads to? It leads to a city with over one million people - and absolutely no trash ANYWHERE. There is no litter on the ground. There is no litter in the subway stations... nothing.
If people have large items to throw away or bulky things or whatever... they have to pay a special service to throw them away. It definitely encourages people to be less wasteful.
This turned out to be longer than I thought....
OH! I should also mention that I'm really close to a large station (subway AND train). When I look out my window, I see the subway station entrance. It's not loud or anything either. The train goes by every 30 minutes or so (I think), and I hear it leave. But the trains don't go by at night so I can sleep ok and everything.
Speaking of sleeping.... it's hard to sleep very late here. I try... but it's impossible for me so far. Japan doesn't have daylight saving time so the sun rises super early (like 4:30 or 5) and the light wakes me up. If it's not the light - it's the heat. Ugh. I've only been sleeping about 6.5 hours lately. I'd like to get the full 8. That'd be nice.
I've never sweat as much in my life as I have in Japan. Dripping, slimy and nasty sweat allllll day long (when I leave my apartment). Yeah.
I also purchased my bike yesterday from the bike shop in front of my apartment. It's pink and has a happy basket and lights. It's the most basic model, but the seat is comfortable. Purchasing a bike here is serious business. They are a true mode of transportation and the cities are designed for bikes. Each bike has a license number and a key (not a super special key, but a key none-the-less). There are special parking lots for bikes too.
I really should stop here.. because I keep thinking of things to write and this entry is long enough. I'll write more soon. I'll also post photos as soon as I can.
Just a heads up: I might not have internet solidly until the end of the month. My neighbor is likely to find I've been leeching... (Maybe if I find out which neighbor, I can ask to pay half the internet costs and just use theirs?)
OK OK.. time to go. There is a sumo match in my near future!
On Wednesday morning we traveled from Tokyo to Sendai via shinkansen - which was totally awesomer than I expected. It was like watching Japan in fast-forward. The countryside is quite beautiful. It kind of made me wish I was placed in the country side.... UNTIL I GOT TO SENDAI!
We arrived in the midst of the tanabata festival. HUGE amazing and detailed streamers hang everywhere from bamboo shoots. It is a celebration of these two stars (hoshi) lovers that are seperated by the milkyway galaxy. Every year they are allowed to "see eachother" and thus.. the festival to celebrate their love. People come from all parts of Japan to see this festival. There are parades, parades, and more parades. If people have a talent, it's showcased here. The downside is that it's sooooooooooo crowded.
This entry could go on forever... but I should keep it brief since I'm hijacking my neighbors wireless (don't worry - I'll be getting my own internet soon... hopefully by the end of the month).
The day after we arrived we met our advisors (the Japanese Teachers of English). My advisor i super awesome and the most helpful person I've ever met. She helped me move my luggage into my apartment... open a bank account... buy a cell phone... shop for food... install a light in my apartment.... shop for necessities at the homegoods store (like pillows, laundry detergent...etc) - ALL in the same day! She even taught me how to eat cold soba noodles.
Needless to say, after the first day... I was exhausted. The first thing I did in my new apartment was take a long... long bath. The bathtubs here are really short, however they are a LOT deeper than western-style tubs. So even though I had to fold my knees to my chest... they were still completely covered by water.
My apartment is really really small. It's probably 15% bigger than my bedroom back home. It really has the essentials for living and nothing more. I'm not complaining... it just takes some getting used to. For example, when I'm cooking... I want to put something on the counter - there is no counter. There is no space to put anything really. I have used the bottom of the sink as counter space. The bathroom situation is unique too. The shower/tub is raised off the ground pretty high - and opens directly in front of the washing machine. The washing machine is in the kitchen. The toilet is in a separate room next to the washing machine (are you following? lol. Don't worry, I'll post photos soon). I'm actually almost too large for the toilet room. My knees touch the wall.
There is a sink built into the toilet (on the top). So after you flush, the water comes from the top and you wash your hands. Genius!
I learned that Japan recycles nearly everything. It's a GOVERNMENT program. It's also mandatory. You don't just throw things away willy-nilly either. You have to purchase special bags (2 different kinds) and sort your trash appropriately. You can't even buy other types of garbage bags. There are only 2 kinds in a few different sizes. That's it. You have to put out certain trash on certain days. It's a lot to think about when you just want to throw something away... but I have to say I'm impressed. I really like that people are forced to recycle. There are also next to zero trash cans outside. People don't eat and drink as they walk around because there is nowhere to throw your trash away. You know what that leads to? It leads to a city with over one million people - and absolutely no trash ANYWHERE. There is no litter on the ground. There is no litter in the subway stations... nothing.
If people have large items to throw away or bulky things or whatever... they have to pay a special service to throw them away. It definitely encourages people to be less wasteful.
This turned out to be longer than I thought....
OH! I should also mention that I'm really close to a large station (subway AND train). When I look out my window, I see the subway station entrance. It's not loud or anything either. The train goes by every 30 minutes or so (I think), and I hear it leave. But the trains don't go by at night so I can sleep ok and everything.
Speaking of sleeping.... it's hard to sleep very late here. I try... but it's impossible for me so far. Japan doesn't have daylight saving time so the sun rises super early (like 4:30 or 5) and the light wakes me up. If it's not the light - it's the heat. Ugh. I've only been sleeping about 6.5 hours lately. I'd like to get the full 8. That'd be nice.
I've never sweat as much in my life as I have in Japan. Dripping, slimy and nasty sweat allllll day long (when I leave my apartment). Yeah.
I also purchased my bike yesterday from the bike shop in front of my apartment. It's pink and has a happy basket and lights. It's the most basic model, but the seat is comfortable. Purchasing a bike here is serious business. They are a true mode of transportation and the cities are designed for bikes. Each bike has a license number and a key (not a super special key, but a key none-the-less). There are special parking lots for bikes too.
I really should stop here.. because I keep thinking of things to write and this entry is long enough. I'll write more soon. I'll also post photos as soon as I can.
Just a heads up: I might not have internet solidly until the end of the month. My neighbor is likely to find I've been leeching... (Maybe if I find out which neighbor, I can ask to pay half the internet costs and just use theirs?)
OK OK.. time to go. There is a sumo match in my near future!