Week 1

So I survived my arrival to Japan! Luckily for me it was nowhere near as traumatic as last time, and though it was slow... at least I didn't end up covered in maple syrup. I actually knew that I could have my luggage delivered to my share house, I knew the train lines and I still had my Suica from last time.

This isn't to say I didn't get lost trying to find the office for my share house. Luckily I managed to phone them 3 minutes before they closed, I must have sounded pretty pathetic because they actually came and got me. After all the documents were signed I was on my way to my new house... where I could not open the door. They gave me a key card saying it was for the house, and a key for the room. I kept flashing the card at what I soon realized was a doorbell. Luckily someone came and opened the door for me, apparently I was at the door for deliveries. I went to the combini to grab something to eat, and had forgotten to ask the person how to open the door. LUCKILY I accidentally pressed a button and opened it.


After freezing during the night, (I could not figure out how to turn the heater on, luckily my friend from Brazil can read Japanese and helped me) I decided that I would have a productive day and register my residence and open a bank account. Lets just say I barely got my residence registered, the bank account was a different day and another disaster. Thankfully the girl who has the room next to me came home after visiting her family for a month. She was nice, showed me how things worked, took me to a sort of welcome dinner (below is a picture) and actually talked to me. The people in this house do not talk to each other, it drives me insane!

Ramen at the place near my house

The next day I had to attend a Japanese placement test at my university, go to Akihabara since it seems to have the ONLY store in Tokyo that sells a converter for Canadian plugs, luckily this got me back online. And ATTEMPT to open a bank account.

Now don't get me wrong, I love Japan. But it's driving me insane since I am under 20. Apparently i'm old enough to drive and go into any adult entertainment store I am NOT old enough to open a bank account or get a cellphone. And when they tell you this only after you have spent most of your day waiting around only to find out it was wasted it gets a little annoying.

Also so many stores have moved, for example Marui One is undergoing renovations. It does not say this on their website, so I dragged a new friend around in circles for 2 hours trying to find it. We ended up passing it 6 times because it was all covered up, surprisingly she hasn't talked to me since.... oops.

On Thursday I had the daunting task of buying a commuter pass, luckily one of my classmates speaks English and very good Japanese so she was able to help us. Also one of the people who works for JR just took my cards and did everything while I stood there thoroughly confused. All I know is I got the pass and it works, so yay!

I also went out to see the Sakura with my next door neighbor Dawn, even at this point the only person in this house that I've held a conversation with. So have some lovely pictures of trees.

Dawn with the Sakura

Luckily I've made friends with my classmates, other people in the school and people around Tokyo (more on the accidental party in another post). So its been a great first week, if slightly hectic.

And with that I shall say adieu till next time,

Slightly Sleepy Sarah