So, I think Waseda thinks we can't read?
Because I just spent like 2 days in orientation and all they did was read out the handouts. Except the scholarship one, that was actually useful. (and omg, keeping track of everything is crazy! welcome to dependancy on my daytimer liek whoa. lol)
Also, those of you headed this way. When they say passport sized pictures, they mean : those tiny little ones that are like 3cmx4cm! NOT canadian passport sized! AND ITS HARD TO GET THOSE IN CANADA!! Fortunately, there are lots of photo booths which will print those instantly, and you can switch the instructions to english on all the ones I've seen so far. It's like 400-800 yen for 4 photos, depending on which one you go to.
re:photos, well guys, I haven't been taking a lot of photos which seems odd until I remember that I'm really really used to everyone taking photos for me! So I will try and make more of an effort, but no promises.
Last night, I went out for a wander with Nicole, Haru, and Fee. We went to Big Box, which is a department store on top of Takadanobaba station. And then over to a really cheap izakaya for a drink. The pub was really nice! It had a touch screen ordering system, and divided up the bill for us, and it sends the orders to the kitchen so you don't have to wait for a server to come to your table. We all had sours, which were weak but tasty! (single shot in a beer mug of mixer o.O)
Had a really quick orientation this morning, and then went for another wander with Fee. We walked passed it, but eventually asked someone and managed to find a shop that would make us our inkan (the little stamp thing that japanese use instead of a signature). The store attendant was so nice! She showed us the basic models and the fancier ones (which both of us chose, Fee got kingyo on blue, and I got stylized wind or waves on dark blue) and also the holders for them. We will pick them up tomorrow, I'm so excited to use it!!
Then we went to ANOTHER orientation session ( I heard sooo many ppl refer to them as the disorientation sessions, because tuning in and out was making them confused ) and now are back at the dorms for our dorm party! And nicole has invited us to go clubbing tonight, we'll see if I go. I want to, but I have ANOTHER session tomorrow at 9. But. CLUBBING. ah, どうすればいい？？？
-J
Thursday 16 September 2010
Tuesday 14 September 2010
15/09/10
Here I am!!!
I meant to write in this when I first arrive, really, but y'know. stuff happens :)
So: my journey until now... Day before I left, I had an awesome time seeing people in calgary, and stayed at a really nice hotel overnight with mom. (And decided to repack my luggage at like 3 am because I couldn't sleep!) Got to the Air Canada counter at like 730 for my 1015 flight, and the lady there said I could only have ONE carry on (which really sucked because I had called ahead to ask, and the person on the phone said I could have 1 carryon and EITHER a purse or laptop case. But I guess my laptop case was too big?) Anyway, had to tear apart my luggage AGAIN right at the counter so I met flight requirements. And managed to pack my headphones in my checked bags, because I'm awesome in the morning without coffee ;)
The flight out to Vancouver was fine, and so was my layover. But, because I'm kinda stupid, I forgot to take out more cash to have changed into yen. (I'm still trying to get used to having to use cash for everything. It's just weird.) So I arrived in Narita, and everything was really efficient and well marked. The airport wasn't busy at all, so customs went really quickly! (also, I was worried about bringing my pills/contacts in because they exceeded the limits I saw online, but they only checked my carryon, and cursorily at that! I totally could've brought ANYTHING with me!)
I was met by a group of volunteers, who walked me through getting my luggage sent to the dorms overnight (takyubin?) and getting my N'ex and Suica card. Then at the Shinjuku station, another set of volunteers met me and brought me to the dorm. I was so jetlagged, I think I made a pretty bad impression on them. Got to the dorm and really briefly met my roommate (Haru from China, she's cute! but I couldn't pronounce her other name properly so she said I could say Haru instead... tone fail!). And, since I didn't have anything but my carry-on to unpack, I went out for dinner with YUMI!!! who was nice enough to come visit when she was done work. We picked up some stuff for my itty bitty dorm room too. (at ドンキホーテ which has lots of stuff but isn`t too cheap. think wal-mart. but smaller. and the next day I tried to find it again with Haru, and epic epic fail.) I think I`ve spent like 150$ getting organizer things and sundries for the room. le sigh. Back at the room, I crashed hard and slept like a rock on the rock-like pillow they give you.
Yesterday morning was spent waiting for my luggae to arrive. and waiting. and waiting. when it did, I unpacked and then went to buy sundries with Haru. Afterwards I met a few ppl who I`d been in touch with via facebook for dinner. And I meant to go out last night, but got sleepy and went to bed early again instead. I really need to grab a coffee tonight and readjust my internal clock! I woke up at 5am this morning. Thats just NOT RIGHT.
Went out early this morning to grab breakfast. I got a lot of stares, it was kind of disconcerting really. Managed to figure out what I hoped was a meal replacement drink for breakfast (Haru confirmed it for me, YAY for a roomie with better japanese!) And soon am off to my first day of orientation (day 1 of like 14 or something ridiculous)
-J
I meant to write in this when I first arrive, really, but y'know. stuff happens :)
So: my journey until now... Day before I left, I had an awesome time seeing people in calgary, and stayed at a really nice hotel overnight with mom. (And decided to repack my luggage at like 3 am because I couldn't sleep!) Got to the Air Canada counter at like 730 for my 1015 flight, and the lady there said I could only have ONE carry on (which really sucked because I had called ahead to ask, and the person on the phone said I could have 1 carryon and EITHER a purse or laptop case. But I guess my laptop case was too big?) Anyway, had to tear apart my luggage AGAIN right at the counter so I met flight requirements. And managed to pack my headphones in my checked bags, because I'm awesome in the morning without coffee ;)
The flight out to Vancouver was fine, and so was my layover. But, because I'm kinda stupid, I forgot to take out more cash to have changed into yen. (I'm still trying to get used to having to use cash for everything. It's just weird.) So I arrived in Narita, and everything was really efficient and well marked. The airport wasn't busy at all, so customs went really quickly! (also, I was worried about bringing my pills/contacts in because they exceeded the limits I saw online, but they only checked my carryon, and cursorily at that! I totally could've brought ANYTHING with me!)
I was met by a group of volunteers, who walked me through getting my luggage sent to the dorms overnight (takyubin?) and getting my N'ex and Suica card. Then at the Shinjuku station, another set of volunteers met me and brought me to the dorm. I was so jetlagged, I think I made a pretty bad impression on them. Got to the dorm and really briefly met my roommate (Haru from China, she's cute! but I couldn't pronounce her other name properly so she said I could say Haru instead... tone fail!). And, since I didn't have anything but my carry-on to unpack, I went out for dinner with YUMI!!! who was nice enough to come visit when she was done work. We picked up some stuff for my itty bitty dorm room too. (at ドンキホーテ which has lots of stuff but isn`t too cheap. think wal-mart. but smaller. and the next day I tried to find it again with Haru, and epic epic fail.) I think I`ve spent like 150$ getting organizer things and sundries for the room. le sigh. Back at the room, I crashed hard and slept like a rock on the rock-like pillow they give you.
Yesterday morning was spent waiting for my luggae to arrive. and waiting. and waiting. when it did, I unpacked and then went to buy sundries with Haru. Afterwards I met a few ppl who I`d been in touch with via facebook for dinner. And I meant to go out last night, but got sleepy and went to bed early again instead. I really need to grab a coffee tonight and readjust my internal clock! I woke up at 5am this morning. Thats just NOT RIGHT.
Went out early this morning to grab breakfast. I got a lot of stares, it was kind of disconcerting really. Managed to figure out what I hoped was a meal replacement drink for breakfast (Haru confirmed it for me, YAY for a roomie with better japanese!) And soon am off to my first day of orientation (day 1 of like 14 or something ridiculous)
-J
Monday 13 September 2010
Test Post
So, this is my online home for my travels this year. We'll see how I do keeping it current!
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