I wish this entry could be longer, but I'm in Japan's most cigarette-smoke-filled Internet Cafe at the moment, and with my lingering jet-lag I'm not completely up to the task of summarizing Mike's Amazing Japan Experience. Anyway, I won't be starting my new job until next week (orientation & training begin Monday), so I don't really know what my new life is shaping up to be just yet.
The important thing is that everything is great. My jet-lag is almost gone already, and my tiny town of Fujimi is way cool, with a chaotic intermix of immaculately maintained Japanese-style houses, 40-foot-wide vending machines, little shacks selling squid, and five-story department stores, often on the same block. One of my roommates arrived the same day as me from San Mateo, and the other is this Australian guy who looks exactly like Russell Crowe circa "The Insider." He's been here for a year and a half and has nothing but good things to say about his life with Nova.
Anyway, I should go before I develop emphysema, but I just wanted everyone to know I'm doing fine. I wish I could upload photos, but so far I haven't figured out a way to do this. In the meantime, here are some highlights:
* My roommate Chuck and I have been wandering around Fujimi for two days straight, and we haven't seen one other white person so far.
* Grocery stores sell bread in packs of four slices. If you want them with the crusts already cut off, they have that too.
* Every car here looks like a cross between a Prius and an Aztek, only boxier. And smaller.
* Japanese schoolgirls on bikes are incredibly hot. Yeah, I know. Shut up.
glad you're settling in quickly! the first 2 weeks can be really hard, adjusting to the language and new surroundings, but its great you've got cool roomies to explore with! (and Japanese schoolgirls to keep you, um, entertained)
Did you feel the earthquake?
Yup. The earthquake lasted about 30 seconds or so. I was in an Italian restaurant at the time, and it felt like someone kept kicking my chair. Eventually I realized that the streetlights outside were swaying, and I thought, "Cool!"
By the way, there's usually an earthquake somewhere in Japan about once a week...
dude, don't even think about japanese high school girl!
you ar evil , goth and all that ... but they are in different ball game. he he
Don't worry. I will only appreciate them from a distance. I know I'm a guest in your country, Yo. I promise not to touch anything.
Cool Mike! Sounds like a great time.