Monday didn’t go quite as planned, an adventure all the same though! Originally, a group of us were going to first see if we could get ourselves to Temple by ourselves and then afterwards go to Shibuya to see the festivities! Instead, however we explored the area surrounding Temple campus building. After getting off at the wrong station and much note taking later, we made it to Temple! On the walk to Temple from the train station, you can see Tokyo tower out in the distance so we headed in that direction once we were satisfied with Temple’s location. With Tokyo Tower you of course have to pay to go to the observation deck (eventually!!!!) what’s below the observation deck is interesting too! There was this huge souvenir shop, a Baskin Robin, McDonalds (they’re selling Broadway, Las Vegas and Grand Canyon burgers. The commercials are so funny XD) THERE’S EVEN AN AQUARIUM!!!!!! From there we were tried finding a train station that was closer to us than the Tamachi station to get to Shibuya but all we found were subway stations -_- While trying to find a train station though we came across a Buddhist temple! There were these little memorial statues with knitted hats on them to portray loved ones who had passed. The figures were super cute but sobering at the same time. Finding the temple was actually an accident, we were just trying to find a train station that was closer to than Tamachi. What we found out………is that there isn’t a closer train station. We made one big HUGE circle!!! When we came out of the Tamachi station we go left…..we came back on the right side. Fail. Was also a major creep and asked two Japanese girls if they wouldn't mind if I took their picture. The pictures from the above adventure are shown above; the pictures below are when I went to explore the local grocery, department, everything store in Ontakesan on Sunday. And yes that is Tommy Lee Jones that you see. He advertises for coffee in Japan =D Just to comment on the foods that you see; 1) a map of the subway system O.o 2) SO MUCH POCKY!, 3) the carrots are so stubby looking!, 4)that’s a radish, 5) leeks, 6) octopus (DX) or squid, 7) tiny pineapples!!!!! Looks like something the Swalm pineapple plant would grow, and 8) but the apples are HUGE and expensive!OOOOOOOO!!!!!! Sorry one last thing!!!! Totally made my day! As I was going back to the dorm today, after my first day of classes, I ran into 2 of the student guides that helped us during orientation a couple days back. I took the train back to Ontakesan with them and once back they showed me a bakery that is pretty cheap AND yummy! They showed me what I needed to try……and then treated me!!!! SUPER DUPER NICE!!!!!!! =D So yeah that’s been Jean since the last post! If you have any questions, or things you would like me to address leave a comment and I'll see what I can do! =D
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
First full week part 1
Monday didn’t go quite as planned, an adventure all the same though! Originally, a group of us were going to first see if we could get ourselves to Temple by ourselves and then afterwards go to Shibuya to see the festivities! Instead, however we explored the area surrounding Temple campus building. After getting off at the wrong station and much note taking later, we made it to Temple! On the walk to Temple from the train station, you can see Tokyo tower out in the distance so we headed in that direction once we were satisfied with Temple’s location. With Tokyo Tower you of course have to pay to go to the observation deck (eventually!!!!) what’s below the observation deck is interesting too! There was this huge souvenir shop, a Baskin Robin, McDonalds (they’re selling Broadway, Las Vegas and Grand Canyon burgers. The commercials are so funny XD) THERE’S EVEN AN AQUARIUM!!!!!! From there we were tried finding a train station that was closer to us than the Tamachi station to get to Shibuya but all we found were subway stations -_- While trying to find a train station though we came across a Buddhist temple! There were these little memorial statues with knitted hats on them to portray loved ones who had passed. The figures were super cute but sobering at the same time. Finding the temple was actually an accident, we were just trying to find a train station that was closer to than Tamachi. What we found out………is that there isn’t a closer train station. We made one big HUGE circle!!! When we came out of the Tamachi station we go left…..we came back on the right side. Fail. Was also a major creep and asked two Japanese girls if they wouldn't mind if I took their picture. The pictures from the above adventure are shown above; the pictures below are when I went to explore the local grocery, department, everything store in Ontakesan on Sunday. And yes that is Tommy Lee Jones that you see. He advertises for coffee in Japan =D Just to comment on the foods that you see; 1) a map of the subway system O.o 2) SO MUCH POCKY!, 3) the carrots are so stubby looking!, 4)that’s a radish, 5) leeks, 6) octopus (DX) or squid, 7) tiny pineapples!!!!! Looks like something the Swalm pineapple plant would grow, and 8) but the apples are HUGE and expensive!OOOOOOOO!!!!!! Sorry one last thing!!!! Totally made my day! As I was going back to the dorm today, after my first day of classes, I ran into 2 of the student guides that helped us during orientation a couple days back. I took the train back to Ontakesan with them and once back they showed me a bakery that is pretty cheap AND yummy! They showed me what I needed to try……and then treated me!!!! SUPER DUPER NICE!!!!!!! =D So yeah that’s been Jean since the last post! If you have any questions, or things you would like me to address leave a comment and I'll see what I can do! =D
Friday, January 6, 2012
14 hours
I've made it to Japan and my goodness does Tokyo just feel immense! Before that though, seriously disappointing in Delta. How come the seats from Philly to Detroit have the individual screens and the international one doesn't? Shenanigans, calling it. Anyway back to my first sentence, in Philly the huge tall office buildings are clustered together in center......not in Tokyo. Sure where I'm living doesn't have any of those tall buildings but I can't really see them and I'm still in Tokyo! In Philly if I squint I can make out City Hall, yeah place is huge. I SAW TWO FERRIS WHEELS COMING INTO THE CITY!!!!!! I wonder if they're as big or bigger than the London eye! Something to investigate. Speaking of investigating, had the TUJ campus building orientation today. They threw so much info at us and there's so much still to do! (these aren't in any particular order, just the first things that come to my mind) Have to sign up and pay for all the trips I want to go on, have to get my alien id card, get a cell phone, buy health insurance, and just overall how much of the moneys that I'm spending. The banks and post offices (truth) are closed until monday (monday is a national holiday that celebrates the coming of age (20) of their citizens) and then classes start up on Tuesday >.< not sure if I can navigate the train system yet, but I'll pretend till then = ) train system is also so different from Philly! There are so many different lines!!!! My train pass has a penguin on it =3 makes me happy. And bought and ate my first bento box from 7-11!!!! It was pretty good expect the fish was trying to kill me! (there were bones in it) Sorry that this post has gone twenty-million different directions. If you have any questions, or things you would like me to address leave a comment and I'll see what I can do! =D
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