Small Updates

This isn't an official post, I've been procrastinating like a mofo on that.

There was a 7.3 earthquake yesterday (so Sunday) at 10-11 AM-ish off the coast of Sendai, which is over 100 miles from Nikko (where I was during the weekend.) Our group didn't feel a thing, but apparently Tokyo felt a little tremor.

As of now, no damage has been reported anywhere. Maybe something fell off a shelf somewhere in Miyagi Prefecture, but other than that not much.

I should write more. Usually I get back too tired and gross from the humidity.

Shook Me All Night Long

The day I can title a blog after AC/DC song and have it makes sense is a good day for me.

The day I get to my dorm and sit down, lo and behold IT'S EARTHQUAKE TIME. Okay, so it was a 4.4 according to PBS. It was strong enough to knock an empty coke bottle off my desk aaaaand that's the extent of the damage. I've had like two more little teeny tremors not even worth registering but those could be the train nearby.

Speaking of trains, one of the operators of the subway I take to work sounds like the Underpants Gnomes from South Park if the Underpants Gnomes were Japanese. It's hilarious and I cross my fingers I end up on the Underpants Gnome train every single time I board. I keep myself busy on the train by playing my DS. And I'm probably the youngest DS player on the train, I see aging Japanese businessmen playing their DS's too. We should totally trade Pokemon.

My first day of work I got lost. Again. Isn't my sense of direction wonderful? But I got there, 15 minutes late. Shachou-san (the president of the company) was outside when I got there and immediately guessed what happened. Man, that guy is peppy 24/7. I think being genki (energetic) is his second job. Even the office ladies said he was little intense in a good way.

My first assignment which I'm still working on is translating the company profile and website into English. Not a problem, basically dick around on Google Translate until 5:30, coolio. The problem is staying awake that long. Thank God for Japan's habit of putting vending machines everywhere, I've been nursing cold green tea to keep me awake but it doesn't do that much. I'm bringing milk tea and coke tomorrow so hopefully that'll work better.

I should sleep if I want to get up at the normal time of 7 AM.

Things I Learned...
- The Underpants Gnomes now operate subways in Japan.
- You're not a legit business until you have a raccoon statue with giant balls outside your front door.
- Sardine cans are roomier than subways during rush hour.
- Your lunch break is for sleeping.

(Not my photo, but this is pretty much my commute.)

Gaijin Don't Cry

We had to move to our dormitories. And pretty much none of us are staying together. We're all scattered all over the city. I sent my bags to the dorm with a delivery service, and they will arrive tomorrow. I packed for today and set out. I started at Sangubashi Station and went to Shinjuku Station. .... that's when everything went FUBAR.

The line I needed was not in Shinjuku Station. I had to leave to find the line's separate station. And with a purse, a bag, my camera bag, and a heavy backpack I got very very lost. Like lost to the point I was in sketchy backstreets and ready to cry because I was so freaked out.

I was warned that cabs were expensive, but after asking several people (even asking a homeless guy setting up his cardboard box, which in hindsight was a God awful idea but I was desperate) I just got more and more lost. I caved and got a cab, which ran me up a bit but at least I wasn't lost, tired and freaked out.

I made it to my dorm, after being dropped off at the wrong one. I was shown around and here I am. It's currently pouring rain outside and quite toasty in this room. The air conditioning is a puzzle but at least I have a chair and a bed to relax in.

Tomorrow I'm planning on going to the Pokemon Center or Harajuku, it's the same line, same route, but I just stay on the train at Harajuku Station instead of getting off. Decisions decisions.

Questions With No Answer

Last day of classes we went out to Meiji Jingu, a shrine to the last emperor of Japan and a popular spot in Tokyo.

Last time I went it was sunny, humid, and generally gross. This time, we had a light cool drizzle. And walking through the great forest around Meiji Jingu was soothing and a whole different experience. It really felt like you were entering a sacred space.

By the time we got there the rain had slowed to a slight misty drizzle.

The whole middle courtyard was slick with rain, as the tsuyu (rainy season) had begun. The main part of the shrine, where the treasure of the shrine is kept, is offlimits for photography. There were several monks out and about, cleaning, greeting visitors, and tending to the inner shrine.

These are ema. They're wooden plaques with wishes written on them. At Meiji Jingu, you can see lots of ema in different languages. We saw Japanese, Korean, Chinese, English, Spanish, Thai, Vietnamese, French, Dutch, and German. Most of them were well-wishes for Japan as they recover from the earthquake and tsunami. Some were from Japanese students asking the kami (gods) to give them scholarships or to help with entrance exams.

Afterwards we walked back to have classes.

That night the whole group, including our teachers, went out for okonomiyaki, a sort of Japanese pancake containing batter, cabbage, a meat of choice, and a few other vegetables topped with tonkatsu sauce and mayonnaise. Not my thing, but man did they feed the hell out of us.

What I learned...
- Japanese businessmen can smell your fear. (forgot to put this in my last entry, oops.)
- My favorite sign ever is still there.
- Mayonnaise. Mayonnaise everywhere.

Something New and Something Old

Backtracking as best I can. I'll make a new post for Meiji Jingu and today.

I met with the shachou (CEO) of my host company, and he's a rather peppy dude who really doesn't expect much of me in terms of formalities and speaking. Which is spiffy because I don't expect them to understand my broken-ass Japanese either. The kachou (section manager) told me not to be nervous. Easier said than done.

While dealing with day to day life I had the most stunning revelation I'll probably have all 7 months I'm in Japan. Learning and using Japanese is like reliving my younger years all Aspie as hell and language impaired. I know what's going on, I understand most of it, I know what I want to say but I just don't know how to say it. I forgot what it was like now that I can actually articulate worth a damn but now I know.

And it sucks.

And Believe Me I Am Still Alive

I am still very much alive. Just incredibly tired and my wrist hurts real bad. Plan on going to the little pharmacy by the station to get a wrist brace. Gotta keep that carpal tunnel in check.

One of the guys on my trip has a habit of making paper cranes out of gum wrappers. That crane up there can fit on a penny.

Also, here's a gecko I saw on the way back to my room.

A proper post will come at a later time. Ja ne.

Boozin' and Schmoozin'

Today was the start of lessons. We learned the art of bowing (easy,) exchanging business cards (why the hell is this so complicated?) and answering the phone (dear lord I hope I never get put on the phone.) It was all taught in Japanese and for the most part I understood it. Tomorrow we learn keigo, which is the most formal way of speaking, usually reserved for the workplace. Which explains why the Waseda students at college were wondering why the hell we were learning it.

This evening, the group decided to go out to the local mall at Narita for food and exploration. We weaved in and out of the mall, home to a supermarket which had the vitals. Fruit, ready made bento boxes, snacks, and four liter bottles of cheap-ass whiskey.

Somewhere, my dad is going "WHISKEY HAS AN E IN IT."

There are also four liter bottles of cheap-ass Japanese vodka and three liter bottles of cheap-ass sake. I think this is what bottled rock bottom looks like.

Things I learned today...
- Whiskey is spelled "whisky."
- Alcohol comes in four liter bottles.
- You can iron shirts with shower steam and mattresses.
- There's always room for tea.
- Business card limbo!

Kill 'em with Silence

This will be disjointed since I'm sticky, tired (but not sleepy tired) and hot.

First day in Japan. It's shockingly cooler outside than it is inside. My dinner is a coke, since they fed us like three times on the 11 hour flight here. I sat next to a very chatty Chinese man, whom had a lot of interesting things to say about his kids.

I spent most of my time playing my DS games (Finished case 1 of Ace Attorney: Trials and Tribulations and beat the last gym in Pokemon Black BOOYAH.) Tonight will most likely be internet browsing, more Ace Attorney, imbibing on a cold Coke, and staring mournfully at my useless phone. We have nothing to do tonight except get here and settle.

Since the main point of going abroad to Japan is to learn something, every time I blog I will write a few things I learned. They're not necessarily useful or important things, but they are things nonetheless.

What I learned today...
- NBA stands for Nihon Bus Association
- There's a strange admirable artistry in kanji road paint.
- Gaijin (foreigners) who understand Japanese give off a vibe that they have a vague understanding of what the hell is going on.
- All the defense attorneys in Ace Attorney have bigger racks than I do. Even the dudes.

Why Nihon Stripes?

Explaining the title a bit.

Nihon (日本): What Japan is called in Japan. Speaks for itself.

Stripes (ストライップズ): My mascot of sorts is an animal called the thylacine, hence the subtitle and the creature in the header. The thylacine has stripes down its back.

There we have it. Nihon Stripes.

Who am I and Where am I Going?

For a first post I guess it makes sense I introduce myself.

For this here blog, Sora or Sora-kun (I'm aware that for my gender "-kun" is inaccurate. Long story.) will suffice. I'm originally from sunny Southern California but attend school in Indiana majoring in Japanese Studies and minoring in Sociology/Anthropology, which apparently puts me one peg above "weeaboo" and in the league of deniers who are "not in it for the anime, honest."

Earlier this year I applied to intern in Tokyo. After countless e-mails, approximately five Skype calls, two patient souls at the internship company, and one bungled "mouichido?" ("one more time, please?") interview later, I managed to land a job in Shinjuku, a very business-centric part of Tokyo.

However, I will be trading my big city monochrome business blazer for rural teacher flats after two months. I will be moving up north to Iwate prefecture to do a study abroad with my college.

I left Sendai there on purpose to show where Iwate is in relation to the main earthquake damage. That's an FAQ with the family, lemme tell you.

This blog will detail what goes on in Tokyo and Iwate, my job, my life, and how an American student fares in Japan. This is gonna be good. The odyssey starts June 11th. Technically June 12th when I land but eh. Who's counting?