Yo, Yokohama!

Still working on that internet thing. Japan makes you learn patience.

Went to Yokohama yesterday with my friend Rose. It was awesomeness. We explored the bay area and rode the world's fastest elevator to the 69th floor of Japan's tallest building and saw the totally amazing view (even if it was too hazy for Fuji-san - just an excuse to go back). Yokohama has a lot of really interesting art and maritime stuff that we didn't have time to see. Another day, definitely!

Later, we went to China Town and wandered around and, most importantly, ate spicy food. Delicious! Japanese food, although super fantastic, is lacking in spice, and I have been missing it. So it was thrilling to get Chinese food that made my nose run with its spiciness.

It was a fun day, and the weather was gorgeous. Perfect day for an outing!

One thing I've noticed about Japan (there are many things, obviously, and when I actually have internet at home and the time to talk about them, I will) is that it is so relaxed here. Time moves slower. You see people rushing for trains, but that's about it for being in a hurry. You take your time here. It's so different from what I'm used to back in the States. It feels strange that I'm in one of the most ridiculously huge, busiest places in the world, and I am learning to slow down, to appreciate, to relax.

The Great Buddha, Kamakura

And here are a couple pictures from last weekend when we went to Kamakura and saw the Daibutsu. Yeah, so this is pretty much one of the best places I have ever been. So famous! So old! I felt so lucky and happy to be there. And for 20 yen you can go inside him! Sugoi!

There is a lot more to see in Kamakura that we did not have time to see (um, we had some getting-on-the-wrong-train issues on the way down, so it was later than expected when we finally arrived), so I will have to go back.

There was a gift shop inside the temple that had lots of interesting things, and there was a gift shop outside of the entrance that also had lots of interesting things, but of a different sort. I bought a couple things on the inside, but I was not sure about the Buddha-shaped cookies and Hello Kitty sitting on a cutesy Buddha's lap cell phone straps that were on the outside. At least, I was not sure about them at the time. Now that I have a cell phone, I kind of wish I'd bought the strap.

Jesus Body!

This is my favorite product in Japan so far. Some sort of diet system, I think.

Because who doesn't want a Jesus body?

Hikawa Shrine, Omiya

In my (tiny, but comfortable) apartment now, but still without internet. I am working on it! Coming to you today from an internet cafe in Ikebukuro.

Here are some pictures from my very first weekend in Japan. I was staying in Omiya, and we walked over to the shrine there on our first day off (and then went shopping). It was so peaceful and relaxing!

I meant to go back before I left Omiya, but I never did. But! I might have to go back to Omiya at some point for more training for work, so I will be sure to visit the shrine again if that happens.

I really love how Japan has such a mixture of the modern and the traditional. I like that I can visit a shrine and then, like, ten minutes later I can be in a crazy huge department store or on a train to Shinjuku or drinking bubble tea and doing purikura (photo booth).

Anyway, I enjoyed my time in Omiya. Not a bad place at all to start my Japanese adventure!

Hola...or something like that.

Oh, internet! How I have not had access to you!

Just a quick entry from an internet cafe to say that I am alive and well and loving Japan. I was in training for the past week, but now have a couple days off before I start work. Moving into my apartment on Monday, yay (and getting a phone, super yay)! Today we went down to Kamakura and saw the giant Buddha which was so totally amazing. Tomorrow, doing some Tokyo exploring.

Love it here so much. It felt like home the moment I stepped off the plane. Hard to believe I`ve only been here a little over a week.

More later!

Thursday Morning, 3 A.M.

Headed to the airport in a few minutes. So so so tired. I slept 4 hours last night and 3 the night before. I was crazy busy packing the night before, and last night I got so little since I had to get up so freaking early this morning. I'm really looking forward to the nice break of my super long flight. I've been so busy getting ready to leave, and I'll be so busy when I get to Japan, but my flight will be a time of relaxation. And hopefully a lot of sleeping.

Will update as soon as I can, although I don't know when I'll have a chance to get online. When I get there? During training? After I'm completely settled in?

Sayonara, lovelies!

お早よう

I leave on Thursday for Japan! I heard from a couple people I will be working with there and that, combined with the panic of getting everything done, made it finally sink in that I'm really going. I'm getting kind of ridiculously excited, although I wish I had an extra day just so I could make sure I'm super rested before I leave. Being temporarily unemployed is nice, but I have been non-stop busy since I left work. I visited DC for a few days, was in Seattle (and Anacortes) for a week to get my visa, and have been packing up and saying goodbye and panicking about getting everything done since getting home. I still have a lot to do today, but at least it finally feels like I'm at the point where the end is in sight.

At the moment, I'm trying to convince myself to get out of bed. When I was still working, only a little over two weeks ago, I would already be at work at this time, but now I can't even imagine being up earlier than this. I'm looking forward to my new schedule in Japan. I'll be working afternoons and evenings for the most part, so I will get to experience morning the way it should be experienced, by sleeping through it. But right now I have a ton of stuff to do, so I should get up.

But maybe I can stay for a few more minutes.