One Week In

Life has been good.  I feel like I'm at Japanese camp.  We start the day with out National Anthem being played over the base-wide speakers. I've been sitting in class all day this week, we've been eating out a lot, running here and there, we have a housekeeper who makes our bed and we end our day shortly after Taps is played over the base-wide speakers.   It's come to feel a bit normal, but not real yet.  We've met some more of Bryan's co-workers, even went on a train ride and out to dinner with them.  They're really fun and a few of them have been here for awhile, so that's helpful. 

Class has been good.  The first day was all about the base--what to/not to do and about the services offered.   I'm going to participate in the classes on Spouse Services, Grocery Shopping in Japan and How to Be an English Teacher.   Tuesday and Wednesday were on Inter-cultural Relations.   We learned about Japanese history, language basics, restaurant manners (I'm definitely showing great improvement with chop sticks!), restrooms, how to use the trains and a lot more.   Our assignment for today was to participate in the group field trip to the train station and then get on a train and go somewhere for the day.   We have lots and lots of fun options that are within an hour or so, but we chose to hit up Tokyo.  Tokyo has 23 different wards, so we had to narrow it down.  We first chose Shibuya, because I wanted to see the huge crosswalk that is often featured in movies and pictures of Tokyo and our second destination was Shinjuku, which is home to the world's busiest train station and a free observatory in the Tokyo Metropolotain Government Building. 

I've also picked up an application to be a substitute teacher at the schools on base.  It's not ideal, but I would enjoy it (especially the little kids!) and it helps pay for me to see more of this part of the world.  The application is a huge packet and is probably more extensive than most applications for being a full time teacher.   I'm really hoping to get an English teaching gig too, but I need to learn a lot more about that. 

And now for the part you probably enjoy the most...pictures!   *But if you follow my facebook, you've seen these already*

Our house!  It's not very homey looking, but it is sturdy.  The sliding glass doors (like the one on the balcony) all have metal garage-like doors to cover them in case a typhoon visits.  I think some flowers on the stoop, flower boxes, a wreathe, and some bikes out front will help.

Pretty normal scene around here.

Vending machines are EVERYWHERE!  

All kinds of fish at the grocery store.  Too bad I don't read Kanji.  Gotta work on that!

My first meal off base!  Shaved roast beef and rice with a delicious sauce.

Most delicious pad thai, ever!  And the best part: It's between the base and our house!

First train ride in Japan!

I'm a very proud train rider and Pasmo card holder (train/bus pass).

Train time table and routes.

We went to a Chinese buffet last night with friends.  It was nothing like our Chinese buffets, as you can see.  And of course it was delicious. 

Outside of Shibuya Station

I love how there is often either pictures of fake dishes outside of Japanese restaurants.  It's quite handy for us non-Kanji readers.

Lunch today:   Edamame and "chicken meatballs with egg yok".  Delicious.

Shibuya 109 is a popular boutique mall. 

Getting ready to cross Shibuya Crossing!

Turns out its not too busy in the middle of the afternoon :-(

Outside of Shinjuku Station.

Nice tower in Shinjuku.

On the way back from the observatory.

Views of Tokyo from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observatory.

The tall skinny building towards the back is the newest tallest building in Tokyo, the Skytree.  It's on my list of places to visit.

The city goes on forever. We live 22 miles from the city center and we're still considered to be a part of the Tokyo Metro area. 

This is a nice one of our shiny/sweaty selves!

Overall, the city is much quieter than I expected. Until you come upon these people: workers with a megaphone. They're mostly in doorways, but some of them just stand in the middle of the street with a megaphone. One store seemed to give half of their employees megaphones and they were apparently having a huge sale. It was overwhelming and we had to get out quick.

No one locks up their bikes here and they're everywhere, all over the city, in front of houses, hundreds of them at train stations.  The only time I will have to lock up my bike is on the Navy base, because Americans are horrible and will steal your bike. Go America.