First Week and a Half

My first week started with Tokyo Orientation. I didn't see much of Tokyo so I will have to go back. Orientation was long, but I was excited to finally be in Japan. JET lag wasn't so fun the first few days--it took awhile to adjust. I'd have to say that by now I am adjusted, but it took at least 5 days to feel normal again.

One of the first things I thought was cool about Japan was the availability of Tea. There was a hot pot for making tea in my hotel room and all sorts of non-sugared iced teas at the convenience store.





After Tokyo we took a long and beautiful long bus ride to Fukui-ken. Japan is so green! There are mountains covered with forest everywhere. And all the rest stops are so pretty and have good food and nice gift stores. We ate lunch at one and I had nice soba noodles.

One thing that is cool is that they have snacks like sushi or rice-based foods at convenience stores and such, so you can get a more nutricious snack. At American corner stores all you can really get is junkfood.



We spent the next few days in Fukui City at the prefectural orientation. Then we finally got to go to our apartments.

I am truly in the country. I am right by the train station, which is
convenient, but there is not much around besides rice fields and
houses. I absolutely love it. It's a bit annoying without a car,
however, since there's no grocery store near me. I went shopping last
Friday with an English teacher from my school, and am still ok for a
bit. Besides, I've gotten 1.5 free watermelons since I've gotten
here! The half of watermelon from my neighbors, 3 Japanese university
students, who knocked on my door with it seconds after I arrived. The
other half from the cell phone company when I signed up to get a
phone. So I had watermelon for dinner tonight!



I went to this amazing Sushi place today in a small city in the
prefecture. The Sushi goes by on a conveyor belt and it's a buck a
plate (2 pieces of sushi). So I had an entire sushi mean for 5 bucks.
And five plates really does fill you up.

Well, I'm getting tired, and am gonna get going. I'll post more soon!