Yes, that is a reporter with a huge duck next to him >.>On Tuesday I traveled by express train to Hitachi. My company's main office is in Tokyo, but my branch is in Hitachi. It is about an hour and a half away from Ueno in Tokyo.
The train station. My train is on the right. It is called the "Super Hitachi".
The train station. My train is on the right. It is called the "Super Hitachi".I was a little concerned about the typhoon pouring down on Japan, that it might stop the train service. But it wasn't a problem. Its interesting, in Japan they simply number the typhoons. Us Americans have to name them for some reason, lol. The rain was a nice change.
My friend Kele and I (she will be living in Hitachi) rode together. When we got to Omika station, I told her we needed to get off, but she thought we got off at Hitachi. The paper they gave us said Omika though. By the time we got up, the doors closed. >.< So we got off on the next stop, Hitachi-Tachiga or something like that, and went over to the other side of the platform where the train would take us back. But just in case, I asked Kele to call. Come to find out, we got off one stop to early. We were supposed to go to Hitachi station. By the time we got back across, a local train had come and gone. The next was coming in 15 minutes. -_-;;;
The view of the station.
When I came to Hitachi, I'm thinking "oh crap, this seems small, Yamatsuri will seem non-existant" >.>. Today (Wednesday) I traveled with Seki-san, the Hitachi branch manager, to my future home to meet with the board of education. I was a bit nervous, but it turned out fine. They were really friendly even though I was embarrassed a couple of times. I became really scared when it came to take the business cards, cause this is really important. But I did well, and they seemed to like me. They want me to meet the mayor. @_@ Seki-san said this is really unusual. A little pressure, much? XD I am sure it will be fine.
More nothingness.
My friend Kele and I (she will be living in Hitachi) rode together. When we got to Omika station, I told her we needed to get off, but she thought we got off at Hitachi. The paper they gave us said Omika though. By the time we got up, the doors closed. >.< So we got off on the next stop, Hitachi-Tachiga or something like that, and went over to the other side of the platform where the train would take us back. But just in case, I asked Kele to call. Come to find out, we got off one stop to early. We were supposed to go to Hitachi station. By the time we got back across, a local train had come and gone. The next was coming in 15 minutes. -_-;;;
The view of the station. Man that picture is small! I need to get a flickr too. -_-
Whenever I am waiting for a train, I always think of "Inception", lol. "You're waiting for a train. A train that'll take you far away. You know where you hope this train will take you. But you can't know for sure. Yet it doesn't matter. Now, tell me why?" Gosh dang it, now I want to watch the movie. Robby mail it to me! D:
So we finally arrive at Hitachi at around 1pm. The station is literally on the sea, which you could hardly see because of the fog. The air smelled like the sea.
We went to the headquarters after picking up some lunch. The branch had to move because of the earthquake, so things are untidy at the moment. The weird thing was, I began to feel sick when I was in the building. I felt like the whole building was moving, like I was on a boat. I was actually feeling nauseated. Robby mentioned that it maybe was dehydration, but I had just drank a whole bottle of milk tea. Phillip, our MC (I don't know what it means either) said that I actually was not the first to say that, and maybe it was because the earth still isn't stable. I guess that makes sense; I get vertigo a lot. Luckily it stopped.
The woman who picked us up was nice enough to take us by the supermarket to get some food for dinner. I picked up some pineapple juice and a 2L jug of water. Vending machines are expensive. Probably 10X the price of buying from a supermarket.
A vending machine with a screen with images of the products. I think its touch screen too.
Japan also has the BEST bread treats. Earlier I had bough a twisty doughnut, cranberry bread, and a cream puff. The bakery lady kept offering samples. That's how they get ya!
The view from my window. See the light part in the sky on the right? The dark part under it is the ocean.
Whenever I am waiting for a train, I always think of "Inception", lol. "You're waiting for a train. A train that'll take you far away. You know where you hope this train will take you. But you can't know for sure. Yet it doesn't matter. Now, tell me why?" Gosh dang it, now I want to watch the movie. Robby mail it to me! D:
So we finally arrive at Hitachi at around 1pm. The station is literally on the sea, which you could hardly see because of the fog. The air smelled like the sea.
We went to the headquarters after picking up some lunch. The branch had to move because of the earthquake, so things are untidy at the moment. The weird thing was, I began to feel sick when I was in the building. I felt like the whole building was moving, like I was on a boat. I was actually feeling nauseated. Robby mentioned that it maybe was dehydration, but I had just drank a whole bottle of milk tea. Phillip, our MC (I don't know what it means either) said that I actually was not the first to say that, and maybe it was because the earth still isn't stable. I guess that makes sense; I get vertigo a lot. Luckily it stopped.
The woman who picked us up was nice enough to take us by the supermarket to get some food for dinner. I picked up some pineapple juice and a 2L jug of water. Vending machines are expensive. Probably 10X the price of buying from a supermarket.
A vending machine with a screen with images of the products. I think its touch screen too.Japan also has the BEST bread treats. Earlier I had bough a twisty doughnut, cranberry bread, and a cream puff. The bakery lady kept offering samples. That's how they get ya!
The view from my window. See the light part in the sky on the right? The dark part under it is the ocean.Hitachi is much smaller than Tokyo. Tokyo has a population of 13,010,279 with a density of 5,847/km2. Hitachi has a population of 195,844 with a density of 868/km2. lol >.> (Interestingly enough, the area is 225.55 km2... there is that 555 again. @_@) Tokyo is so easy and has so much to do. I don't know what to do here! There is an aquarium and a park though. And yes, Hitachi is the home of the electronics company. I couldn't help but laugh when eating breakfast, I saw underneath the TV a Hitachi dvd player.
You know what is smaller though? My town, Yamatsuri. XD
On the road to Yamatsuri-machi.
You know what is smaller though? My town, Yamatsuri. XD
On the road to Yamatsuri-machi.
More nothingness.I will be starting teaching on the 25th of August. Why they needed me early I have no clue. But I will get paid to sit around. Seki-san said I can stay in Hitachi until then. I don't know what I want to do. I would kind of like to get my own place. And this bed is dreadful. It is harder than the one in Tokyo! I am sitting in it right now and it feels like I am on the floor. (My butt hurts really bad :O.) But I am not sure yet what to do. Another ALT is moving on August 1st. I might do that as well.
More mountain road. They have some really cool old homes in this area.
Seki-san also informed me that there are a bunch of ALTs around me. One that is nearby is from Washington state! Yay. :D Oh! I also was asked what level I would prefer to teach. So as it is, I will be only teaching Elementary! SO EXCITED YEAH!
Well that's it! I think I'll go take a bath. Luckily I have this handy sign to help me.
Lol. It says that when you take a bath, put the curtain outside, and when you take a shower, leave in inside. XD
More mountain road. They have some really cool old homes in this area.Seki-san also informed me that there are a bunch of ALTs around me. One that is nearby is from Washington state! Yay. :D Oh! I also was asked what level I would prefer to teach. So as it is, I will be only teaching Elementary! SO EXCITED YEAH!
Well that's it! I think I'll go take a bath. Luckily I have this handy sign to help me.
Lol. It says that when you take a bath, put the curtain outside, and when you take a shower, leave in inside. XD
I'll take pics of my room later. I have more training tomorrow and then I guess I will sit around... >.> It will be nice to be able to sleep/read/write/rest for once.
Training building.
Jya, matta ne.
<3 Stephanie
Training building.Jya, matta ne.
<3 Stephanie
6:26 PM |
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Comments (4)
That bath sign is so odd xD Would you really want to take a bath with a curtain in the water with you? I can understand the shower part though, You wouldn't want someone forgetting to replace it and getting water everywhere. I'm glad you are closer to getting settled in and that you enjoyed your stay in Tokyo.
Me too! :D Maybe its for people who aren't used to having an actual shower. I thought the usage of "in case of" was great. XD That's what it says in Japanese but it doesn't translate well into English!
Hahaha....my gosh what adventures you have! Everything is so random and brought upon you last minute, what a great experience to have =] Im hoping your bed in yamatsuri will be better, if not I can mail you memory foam!
Love the hubby,
Robby
Awww, ur comment made me smile. :D Send me Inception first! XD