Muscle Memory

Pretty sure I'm gaining weight. Did not expect that. Food = scrumptious here

It wasn't till 11 AM yesterday that I began to move around. Over the past few days, I've been tinkering with budgeting my money and making up methods that allow me to spend, yet save. One of these methods required me to go to the Post Office and withdraw more money. If I keep withdrawing small amounts from an ATM, I keep getting charged an international fee (I think it is $10 from ORNL), so if I take out a lot over time, it is essentially cheaper. Plus, having lots of tangible cash is satisfying in case of fire.

I got my cash and walked back. On the way, I stopped in a Circle K and got another obento. This one was katsu, rice, and yummy noodles. I also got more coffee latte (this could be the reason to my feeling of weight gain!). Delicious!

I came back and enjoyed my meal at Stephanie's. Once done, I got ready to head to Nagoya. Stephanie had told me that morning that I should go there and meet her at the OXO British Pub. She gave me directions of subway lines so I could go to Nagoya Castle and Osu Kannon Temple. When I was about to board the train, I realized I forgot everything she had told me.

So here I am in a familiar situation, being totally unfamiliaralized with where I am. I hope on a train that says it is bound for Nagoya. Usually, the train I've been taking is only two stops till Nagoya, but this one had already stopped four times and we weren't very far. At this stop, everyone on the train seemed to jump off. I stayed on, trying to stick to my guns, but a train pulled up and said "Express Nagoya". Whatever it was clicked in my head, telling me that I was on a local train, and I needed to be in the express. Instantly and without thinking, I hopped on the next train. I crossed my fingers, and yay! I made it to Nagoya Station. Now the tricky part was here.

I had absolutely no recollection of Nagoya Station, though I had been there 2 or three times. This is the same place that I first went to the post office that was near a Krispy Kreme. I decided to walk over there and pray that my eyes remember something. Sure enough, the memories began to kick in. I saw a ticket booth, felt it and I got intimate at one point over the week, and I bought a ticket from it. I walked over to a familiar ticket gate, go through, and look up at the platforms. I walked and walked till I say Tajima. Something about this felt right, so went up and hopped on the train. As the train leaves, I saw familiar skylines, but the whole ride was never reassuring. I could have ended up anywhere, for there are so many trains!

Nonetheless, I make it to Asunal Live plaza, which is where the pub is. I gave myself a mental high five, and trotted on like I owned the place. It was about 1:30, and Stephanie wasn't going to meet me till 5, so I had plenty of time to waste, so I did what I love doing the most: exploring. I first went into Daiei, which is the super store where I bought my coin case (yes, I actually am in Celadon!). I explored every floor, even the bottom two levels which were hardly floors themselves. I later walk out and head toward a main street. Because I am extremely intimidated my traveling on subways or trains (for reasons you all can figure out), I thought walking would do me well. You can't go wrong with straights, lefts, rights, and backsies when you are in control.

I walk a good ways down this main road, and as I was about to turn around, I spotted a temple (http://bit.ly/qtesXl). It was very, very beautiful. It also is the kind where I can get my temple book stamped (in 2008, I received a temple book  where at every famous temple in Japan, you can get it stamped with brilliant looking Japanese characters). I didn't have my book, though, but the stampers weren't their, so no biggie. I'll do it some other time. I started to explore the temple, but then to my right, I saw a mesmerizing shopping center, full of many colorful things. I walk down this mall of sorts and it takes me about 10-20 minutes to walk the whole thing. In the end, I found out I was at the Temple Osu Kannon, a pretty famous temple.

Enjoyed it, and then headed back on 40 minute walk toward Asunal (http://bit.ly/o90Zuf). I got back around 4 or 4:30. So I went up to the pub and sat around till 5. 5 is happy hour, by the way. Cocktails are half off, and this is a good thing. :)

Stephanie showed up almost right at 5, and she got her two drinks and nutts. I had Guinness and co-kohai (Coke Whiskey). We walked around the plaza a bit and saw a singer. She was pretty good, but the best part was seeing all the old men watching her. They made up majority of the crowd. Japan, you be creepy.

After a bit, Leah showed up and we all headed to Denny's. Spent a good hour or two there, and oh my, was it good. I got a spicy, ramen bowl that was huge! Later that evening, we go to a book store to simply look around. Fun fun, but it was getting late. It was time to head back and sleep, and head back and sleep I did!

Walmart of Japan

Future reference, I won't be posting blogs everyday like I have been come school time. I just have tons of free time, and many interesting things are occurring. My goal isn't to make you care about what I am doing in Japan, but hopefully make you smile about a foreign acting silly in Japan.

So...yesterday, I woke up early and had planned to go to the post office again. That didn't happen. No, it didn't because my computer decided to be a jerk and won't take photos from my phone, so I had to use WiFi which luckily Stephanie has. Usually, WiFi is nonexistent in Japan. Hopefully a US Embassy like Starbucks or McDonalds has it. Because of this and the fact my camera charger doesn't work, I might not be able to take pictures...maybe the campus will have WiFi?

After hours of being angry, I was starting to get hungry. Probably shouldn't exert so much energy on useless actions. Anywho, I walked to a Circle K near the Kintetsu Train Station (which apparently isn't the closest one I could have gone to). The walk was reliant on muscle memory. Didn't really have a clue where I was going but I got where I needed to go. That is a mission accomplished.

Inside, I got an obento, or a Japanese pre-made meal...kind of. It had noodles, chicken, rice, and an egg. The lady at the counter asked me if I wanted it heated up, and I was gun-ho about that. I leave Circle K with my warm meal (and a drink called Procari Sweat!) and make my back to Steph's. I eat a much needed meal, and pass out on the floor till Steph returned from work.

Around 3 or 4, we head to Aeon Town, the Japanese Walmart. It was a decent walk, taking about 40 minutes. The area is your typical shopping center -- big parking lot and random shops. We first walk into a arcade and played this drumming game (like any other music arcade game, i.e. dance dance revolution). There was this awesome DBZ game where you played cards, and the arcade would act out the cards. Oh! so cool!

Next to the arcade was a pet store. They had many dogs and some bunnies. All the dogs were tiny and extraordinarily (supernormaly in Japan?) small. Cute, though, if you are into that. Then, we went into Aeon, a big superstore. I asked Steph what a typical day at the grocery store would be like, and she showed me around. The beef seemed really expense, but chicken not so much. I guess I found my new favorite bird. I started to get tired at this point, so I got a Cafe Latte and, wait for it, Pumpkin Cheescake Kit-Kat Bars! I think you'd like them, Becca.

A little time on the bench to get my energy back, we went into a 100 yen store (your Dollar General). So many fun arts and crafts! I can't wait to decorate my room with all of the silly crap they had in there. Hope there will be on next or near my dorm in Kobe.

We wasted some more time in a Soft Bank (cell phone store) and an electronic store, and around this time, it was 6, so we headed toward Sushiro (sushi roll!). It was a typical sushi place where all the food was on a conveyor belt. It was cheap and oh so yummy in my tummy.

Once the stomach was satisfied, a good 40 minute night walk was at hand (http://bit.ly/rjmccx). We come back and I fettle with money budgeting which actually turns out to be quite fun! Then comes the night, with many numbers transversing my mind.

First Adventure

I woke up after a much needed sleep, and was treated to a banana and left over airplane food. Stephanie was getting ready to go to work, and I was counting out my money. After she left, I had planned on going to the post office to get more money from my bank account, but I realized how tired I truly was and slept for another 3-4 hours.

When I woke up, Stephanie had come back, and we got ready to head to Nagoya to meet up with some of Steph's coworkers. The walk over to the Yatomo Kintetsu station was a pleasant one. The sky was clear and the weather was cool. We got to the station shortly and off we were to Nagoya Station.

Upon arriving, we headed straight toward the post office. There, I took out much needed mullah from an ATM. Across from the post office was a Krispy Kreme, helping me realize that I was hungry. Good thing I have money now to enjoy all my meals!

We left the station and walked into a store where I purchased a coin case. Because up to the equivalent of five American dollars is on a coin in Japan, change isn't something you can merely toss in your bag. So having a coin case was needed and, so far, has been a wonderful purchase. While at the store, I saw the most awesome DBZ drinks (http://bit.ly/pPsxaz). POWER SQUASH! lol DBZ will never get old.

Leaving the store, we walked back near the exit of Nagoya Station. There is a fairly big plaza in this area with many shops. In the area, there was a vending machine full of many drinks. When I can to Japan in 2008, there was this drink called Real Gold (http://bit.ly/ppEtCr) that supposedly had nicotine in it. Just by chance, this vending machine had it, and I "had to have" it. Turns out it is still amazing.


Afterwards, we went to this British pub named OXO (http://bit.ly/qk1KwS). It was interesting. The environment was dark and bar like, but it had really fancy chandeliers. Funny if you ask me. I ordered a Whiskey Coke and a Moscow Mule. They were a bit weak but enjoyable. Steph and I sat and waited to meet her friends. First came Mark, then Sally, and finally Lea (sp?). Mark and Sally are British and Lea is American. When we all settled, I began to laugh in the back in my mind. Of course we three white, English-speaking people would go to an English pub. Typical foreigners. Anywho, I met and greeted all of them, which all seemed like fun people.


When we finished out drinks, we went to this chicken place to have dinner. I forget the name of it, but it had tori in it which means bird in Japanese. The walk over was as equally as pleasant as the walk to Yatomi station was, cool and relaxing and short. We walked up a flight of stairs, and there it was. I was so hungry at this point that everything I was smelling smelt like a goddess. We sit and order and have our way with multiple, well, meats on a stick. Oh, and cabbage. Think of the chips you get at a Mexican restaurant, this is what the cabbage's role was. It was good, though. When we started getting into our food, Mark had to leave to Skype, as he calls her, the Misses.


Filling my stomach on some much needed food, we walk over to Mr. Donut. On the way, I spot a sign that Jordan said I wouldn't ever spot (http://bit.ly/qe1NIM). Seems I found Waldo. Besides feeling smarter and more aware of life than my stupid friend, I was excited to have a doughnut! Especially a Mr. Donut. I'm not sure if any have noticed, but on my backpack, I have a couple of paraphernalia on a zipper. One of them is a souvenir from Mr. Donut back in 2008.


There, I got a strawberry donut, ate and enjoyed it with everyone else. We laugh over silly nonsense for awhile before we decide to part ways. It was around 9 PM and had been dark for about 3 or so hours. It felt late and I was getting tired. Steph and I headed back on the train and made way to her place. We cozzy ourselves and sleep off a great day.

The Road Goes Ever On And On

What a day yesterday was. 24 hour of straight traveling and maybe 8 hours of sleep in the past 48 hours. I would love to recount this stressful, yet fun, journey as it is.

Early Sunday morning, I awoke after having roughly 4 hours of sleep. But I woke to waffles, which Mark had made, lifting my morning woes temporarily. I ate with Ashlyn and Jake, and they were acting as wild as ever, not really understanding what it means for me to be leaving. My mom knew, though, and I could tell she was on the verge of tears. Sad but comforting to know someone loves you, even if you are on the other side of the world.

We got to the airport around 10:20 AM. The very first thing I do is swipe my passport at the Delta kiosk, and it doesn't work. Expected, I guess. As I walk to the friendly-fondlers (TSA), my family (Mom, Mark, the Kids, Papa and Anne, and Nannie) wave me off. Mom decided to stick around a little longer, taking pictures. I'm sure pictures of someone standing in line is worthy of Pulitzer Prize.

The plane for Detroit takes off, and as soon as it reached its max altitude, it begins to descend. Short flight. A lady sitting next to me begins to talk with me while the plane is taxiing. She tells me she is from Trevor, Michigan, and pulls out her hand to show me where it was. I laughed when she did this, because I remember Jordan showing me the same hand-trick that Wisconsoners use, only Wisconsin uses the left hand, while Michigan uses the right. I can only think of one body part that justifies Tennessee's geography.

The Detroit International Airport was fun. To get to Corridor A, I had to go under the runway. The tunnel over to A was magnificent. It was long and the architecture was aquatic like, with blue-lit walls. As I ascend and approach my terminal, the Houston Texans and New Orleans Saints are projected on a ginormous screen. I sit and watch the game for awhile before I decide to walk around the airport. My plane from Knoxville had landed at around 1 and the plane to Tokyo wouldn't leave till about 4.

I get on the intimidatingly huge 747, go to my seat, and prep however one can prep for a 13 hour flight. We watched 4 movies (some stupid Drew Berrymore movie, one with Russel Brand, Rio, and the King's Speech). That some what kept my attention on the flight, whenever I wasn't trying to doze off, that is. When the stewardess came out with food, in my head, I felt like a dog in a kennel. I was excited every time they came out, and they came out at just the right time, all the time (dinner, mid flight snack, pre-arrival meal). People seem to always complain about airplane food, but I love it, and I loved it this time. Chicken, cold bananas, and omelets -- oh! it was good.

During the entire flight, the sun never set. Not until we landed in Narita International Airport. And this is where the fun truly begins. Before we landed, I began to plan out what I needed to do. Customs, baggage, money exchange, and then find the rail system. I breeze through the first three steps, but a failed at the last one, which became a theme for the rest of the evening.

The first train needed to get me to Tokyo station. So after 20 minutes of staring at a booth, I summon up the courage to ask where in the hell do I need to go. The worker spoke English, and got me the ticket I needed. It was no trouble, really, getting on the first train, an express train that went straight from the airport to Tokyo. Not many people were on it, and I had time to collect my thoughts for the next adventure. How two years of Japanese could not have prepared me for it.

Tokyo Station was a flippin zoo. I felt like I walked into a marching band competition, only without any instruments and more rapid movements. I have the slightest clue what I am doing, and I simply try to make my way to the Shinkansen (Bullet Train). After buying the wrong ticket at a kiosk, I walk up to a (maybe) ticket office, and ask in Japanese one of the clerks if she can speak English. She hardly does, and I had to resort to 3 year old Japanese with her. After miming a few words, things work out and I have a ticket. So...now what?

The very first person I ask where my train is told me they were not Japanese, as I asked them in Japanese. She told me she wasn't Japanese in short form, so I'm pretty sure I offended her and made a clear ass of my self. I feel bad, but I gotta truck on. I ask a guy wearing a funny suit with a funny hat that looked like some Halloween police officer. He turned out to be a train coordinate and helped me find where I needed to go. I get on, and bam! off to Nagoya Station.

Well, you see, I got on the wrong cart. Cart 6 to be exact. After looking over my ticket, it I'm supposed to be in Cart 1. So here I am, the foreigner, looking really foreign, carrying my large, bright blue suitcase down the hall, huffing and puffing and sweating. I finally make it to my seat to which I passed out. Now, three years ago when I was in Japan, I got lost in Tokyo because I fell asleep on a train. So almost happened this time. I woke up to "Nagoya", opened my eyes and focused hard to discern what the train god-lady voice was saying, and Nagoya Station was the next stop. I prop my weak and tired self up and make to the exit.

One more stop, one more confrontation with a clerk who barely spoke English while I barely spoke Japanese, and one homeless man. Yes, being foreign and obviously so makes it easy for you to become prey. Anywho, I ward the fellow off, and get my ticket. I ask a local where I am going, and the kind fellow escorts me where I needed to go. He takes me as far as he can, and I find that my train leaves in 4 minutes. I rush up the platform only to find out it is the wrong platform. I go down and up again, wrong platform. Do it again, wrong platform. I did this four times, and thought I had missed my train. I finally realize another train will be coming soon, but since I am close to my destination, I turn on my data to my phone (I look forward to the expenses) and open Google Maps. I get on the train and once it starts to move, I simply hoped I was going the right way. The map has the track bending right, and I repeat over and over, "Go right! Go right!" And...it went right! I was on my way to Yatomi, my final destination!

I get off at my stop, and it maybe had a bench to sit on. I had told Stephanie, the girl I am staying with in Yatomi, to meet me at the train station. My knowledge was weak on stations in Japan, and it turned out I was at the wrong Yatomi station. Luckily, Stephanie gave me her address, so I begin to walk the dark, but peaceful streets of Yatomi. I, after going through so much stress and being very hot, enjoyed the cool, post-typhon breeze. While I'm lolling about, Stephanie drives up to me! We hug, and I finally feel a since of true comfort.

We drive by a Circle K and I get some food for my depleted body. She drives me to her apartment (streets in Japan will blow your mind), and shows me around. The room is the size of maybe a two stories' bonus room. Efficient , though. We talk for a bit while we eat our convenient store food, and then finally, I begin to doze off and sleep.

What a first day in Japan it was.

Relaxative

Less than one week till I go to the other side. Currently constipated and feeling a sense of disorder, I couldn't need more of a reason to relax.

I have many plans that I hope to carry out while in Japan. First and foremost, become better than a Japanese 3 year old at Japanese. Second, try to implement my lacking linguistic skills. And third and more fun, documenting my extravaganzas. Blogger, Youtube, Twitter, Facebook, Reddit - I plan to social network this crazy experience.

But funnily enough, I would give this trip away to sit on the toilet, read a paper like a 50's dad, and just push out all of my problems. Nothing like a mental enema, no?

Ignorance Is Bliss

I'm about to leave everything I've ever known behind. All of my friends, my family, my bed, my home. Hell, I'm leaving more than that. I'm leaving everything nostalgic. I'll have no more Autumn motorcycle rides, basking in memories of youthood. I'm leaving watching football with my dad behind. I won't gather around on Thanksgiving with my family, celebrating everyone who has touched me and helped this vessel set sail. I'll be back shortly in the beginning of winter to celebrate the love of two friends, but then come Spring and Summer, I'll be without all those I love.

But I won't.

Everything that I am, all that flows through my blood and passes through my mouth, the looks I give and the laughs I yell -- all of these things were given to me by all those that I love. These are treasures I'll carry with me for the rest of my life. Like a container, I collect all the saintly smiles and merciful memories that pervade my mind -- and pick them out on the days that dare to drag me down.

No matter the pains that await me, no matter the tedious troubles I'll have, I can't break as long as my heart remembers what love I have and all the love that has made me me.

With heart in hand, a shield tougher than steel, I'm given the chance to fully welcome my journey ahead. Now I know I can face all my demons, barreling them all in the eye. And I'll tell them that this Son is loved.

Ignorance is never bliss.

It's Basically Like Camping

Today, I applied for the Intensive Japanese Program. This means that my whole first semester would essentially be eat and sleep Japanese. I'm okay with that. I hear the Japanese eat and sleep well.

Questions:

1. Which came first: suicide or the samurai?
2. If Japan experiences all four seasons and also acknowledges a dry and wet season, how many seasons does Japan have?
3. What kind of dog do the Japanese eat?
4. Is it fried rice or flied lice?
5. How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if it were a Japanese woodchuck, Chuck?

Cat Sounds and Following with a Need to Catch Up!

Recently purchased my Flip and 3DS Starter Kit off Amazon! The Flip might be a rip on myself, but we'll see. Now to sit and wait in Lee's dreary rains.

Flip specs here.

Starter kit here.

Enjoy.