Rain rain...

It seems to rain a lot here. If it weren't for all the Japanese people walking around I'd think I was in Seattle.

Yesterday I went to church in Ochanomizu again, and despite thinking about taking my umbrella because the sky looked a little gray, I walked out of the building into a downpour. Umbrella-less. So I buttoned my jacket up all the way, pulled the collar up and headed to Starbucks for an afternoon of reading and studying the Word. I walked by a shop selling pink and purple umbrellas for only 500 Yen, so I bought a pretty pink one and continued on my way.

Being a pretty obvious English speaker, I have a lot of fun conversations with people who are excited to test out their English on me. I went into Dr. Sound (a cool guitar store) to buy a capo--which cost a little over $25, which seems ridiculous to me, but I needed one and haven't seen any cheaper so far--and the clerk, who was probably in his 50's, donned a huge grin and started counting my change back to me in English. I smiled and told him his English was very good and he just lit up and thanked me profusely. Then on my way home from the train station, I stopped at a little take-out shop for some chicken, and while I was waiting for my dinner to be ready, a man came into the tiny shop to pick up his. He kept staring at me, and so I just kept looking at my new cool pink umbrella. Finally, after he must have worked up enough courage, he said "It's freezing out, isn't it?" And I must have looked pretty surprised because I'm not used to anyone speaking English to me in our town. We talked briefly about the weather and how he thinks winter is coming back (winter for them is like 40 degrees F, I didn't tell him that 40 is quite warm considering our winter is normally -10). I imagine they are as excited when they can use English as I am when I get a chance to use the few Japanese words I know.


One final random encounter--two days ago I was walking to the train station to head into Matsudo to buy a capo. I had my iPod in and was listening to a little TJ McCloud when a car pulled up beside me and slowed way down. I was expecting it to turn at the intersection I was about to cross, so I stopped, and then heard the driver talking to me. I pulled out a headphone and looked at him blankly as he rattled off something in Japanese. I shrugged and said "Eego?" ("English?") He then said the name of the train station I was going to, and I thought maybe he was asking for directions, so I pointed him in the right direction, but then he said it again, and then I realized he was asking me if I was going there. To which I hesitantly replied yes (while this is a very safe country, I've already had some interesting encounters with Japanese men and was mildly aware that this situation could go very wrong very fast). He motioned to the passenger seat, and then pointed at me, and said "Minoridai Station?" I laughed awkwardly and politely refused to get into a strange man's car, and as he drove away, I turned the opposite direction to head to the other station near my apartment instead.

the end.

Well that was awkward

I don't really enjoy having people within my own personal space very much. And thus far have been pretty successful at avoiding it. Until tonight on my way home from Ochanomizu. The train going into Tokyo was fairly empty so I was able to sit/sleep the whole way there (it's about a 35 minute ride). I was looking forward to some more resting of the eyes on my way home, until the train pulled up and I wanted to cringe at the thought of getting on. It was so full of people that I didn't think there was any possible way that another human being could fit! But you, those Japanese sure do know how to make the most of space, so we crammed into that little car, as if expecting it to just expand as more people got on. I looked around trying to see if there was something I could hold onto so I didn't fall over when the train started, and then realized how ridiculous that was. There was no way I was going to fall, because I was pressed up against people on all sides. And when I realized that my butt was touching another guy's butt, I somehow felt like I was 13 and tried really hard to suppress my immature giggling at the immense akwardness. I could feel the sweat starting to drip down my back (I had 3 shirts on and a coat, scarf and hat) and was so thankful when they turned the fan on above my head. I watched two poor little girls essentially getting crushed by some older guys about twice their size and smiled as they were unsuccessful in suppressing their laughter.

Ochanomizu is music and sports HEAVEN! The church we went to on Sunday (Easter) is located on the 8th floor of the Ochanomizu Christian Center which is on the same street as about 8 guitar shops, at least 2 violin shops and countless other music stores. I came back this evening to have more of a look around and to price guitars because I desperately need a new addiction other than Grey's Anatomy, and was completely enthralled by the vast amount of music stores and sports shops! I walked and walked and walked, stopped at one of the many Starbucks I came across and ordered a Caramel Machiatto, then continued to walk some more, ignoring most of the stares that I got (although sometimes I enjoy just staring right back, because then the stare-er usually looks really uncomfortable that they got caught mid-stare). I found a guitar for about 9000 yen, ($90) and although I'm sure it's not very good quality, it should be fine for a learning tool for now. John said he would come with me and help me talk to the salesperson about everything, so hopefully soon I'll be plucking away those strings instead of staring mindlessly at my computer screen wondering if Meredith and McDreamy are ever going to just be OK without all the added drama. There were so many board shops as well--snowboard, surfboard, skateboard ,etc. It made me wish I could do any of those (especially surf) just so I could justify looking around!

Then on my way home, I sucked it up and ate at McDonalds by myself. Now, I don't mind eating alone, but whenever I see someone else eating alone I can never help but feel a tinge of sadness for them, as if they have no friends and are forced to eat alone. Then, I remembered I have no friends and I do have to eat alone! :) Haha, but it was ok because I had the last book of the Chronicles of Narnia with me so CS Lewis entertained me as I ate, and there were several people eating by themselves and studying (yeah, McDonalds is actually a pretty popular place to study apparently) I also don't like McDonalds in general, but I usually only remember that about an hour after I eat there...note to self: no more McDonalds.

Ironic, isn't it?

I sit here, watching entire seasons of tv shows online, currently on Grey's Anatomy. I've never really watched this show. But the interns are working their first 48 hour shift, and as I watch them fall asleep on their feet, I can't help but feel a bit jealous. I miss the nights of staying up insanely late with friends, and attempting to stay awake in my classes and at work the next day. I actually miss having classes to go to. Never thought I would utter those words. I guess all this time off with nothing specific to get done immediately doesn't suit me well.

I need a project.

Yesterday, Jenna, Josh (her boyfriend who is here visiting for a week) and I went to Asakusa which is a very popular tourist spot in Tokyo. The trains there were nothing short of chaotic confusion, but once we finally got out of the station, this American couple walked up to us asking us if we spoke English. They wanted to know where the tmple was, and Jenna told them where to go, because she and Beth had already been there. We walked with them to the tourist info place, where I overheard the lady tell Jenna she was born in Laurel Nebraska! A few minutes north of where I went to school for my freshman year. Even though she didn't really know anything about the place because it was so long ago, her husband looked uncommonly familiar. It was so strange.


Then, as we were entering the touristy shopping area, I made eye contact with a very nice dressed woman holding a microphone, and she asked me to come over and interviewed me on camera, apparently for a news show about the value of the Yen. I'm sure I looked like an idiot because I couldn't really understand what she wanted me to talk about and her English was on and off...but it was still crazy nonetheless! I was one of those foreigners that got interviewed to be on TV!

I'll make it my goal to update this as often as I can.


Until next time...