First Few Days in Japan

So I have been with out internet for the past three days, so the next few posts will be about those days.

So today was the big travel day and man was it messed up. The first leg was fine, I even got out of San Diego an hour early. At LAX I first had trouble finding the gate, and then I remembered that I left my pillow on the last plane and on my way back to the gate there was some security thing where they had all of us stop moving for about five minuets. I finally retrieved my pillow from the old plane after it took a little to long and then found out that to get to my departure gate I had to leave the terminal, catch a bus to a different terminal and then go back through security. I was a little upset about this but it wasn’t that big of a deal, then when I went to check in, they kept telling me that I would have to gate check my guitar case as the closets are for business class and up. It eventually worked out so I didn’t have to check the guitar case. On my way to the gate, the broken latch on the guitar case tore my shorts (I don’t think I will be able to repair them by hand, granted they were free). I finally board and the flight was over all good.
The pluses of flying ANA were: movies on demand( I watched: Four Weddings and Funeral, Aliens and Monsters, Duplicity, 17 Again( hoping to sleep), and I Love You, Man) I spent the first hour or so trying to get a bunch of necklaces untangled, never succeeded and then just watched movies and played some PSP. The negatives of flying ANA: Sticklers for the rules and the seats are very very very narrow. Upon arriving at Narita, everything was fine. I made it though customs and immigration fine, granted I was a bit tired and hungry, as I did not sleep on the flight. The day started to take a turn for the negative when I went to get my bags.
I packed my clothes in two cardboard boxes, figuring they are light and durable (granted I forgot that the bag people have fun seeing who can shot put the bag the farthest). It took me forever to find someone that could give me a customer service number in case anything was broken (still haven’t checked). With my tattered boxes I continued on my way and met my friend Haruka, who I will be spending 3 days with at her house before I can move in to the dorm. She informed me that Bryan’s (my co-worker) flight was delayed and would not be getting in till 9pm (it was currently 5:45), so she gave me directions and had me purchase a ticket to go meet her father at one of the train stations. THIS is when the day went to crap.
First the train ticket cost way more than I thought it was going too, then upon boarding the train the dolly I was using to transport the cardboard boxes broke, the plastic snapped. Once I slowed down on the train and started thinking, I figured out that I have some packing tape and I could use that like rope to fix it (WRONG). When disembarking from the train the dolly basically went flying out from under the boxes and was in three pieces. Having for seen this happening I quickly moved to a new solution, while Haruka’s dad was standing there thinking what the heck is this foreigner doing. I removed the plastic bags from the boxes and took the two heaviest and taped the ends together (the ends had already been twirled and taped together) so to create a handle. Great idea, except it lasted for about 100 feet before the tape slide off the bag (its packing tape not duct tape). Haruka’s father directs me to a taxi, which we take to his home, I offer to pay (I know in the culture it is rude but I had too) and he shot me down. In the cab there was the awkward talking, where he really doesn’t know English and I really don’t know Japanese (I have forgotten almost all of what I once knew). During the cab though I do find out he has a motorcycle (BMW, also a Honda scooter and an Italian speed bike). He shows me around the house and then we sit and have some water and he asks if I am hungry and what I want. I reply I am ok with anything, so he takes me to a steak house.
On the way he showed me his work, in the basement of the house we are staying in and his main house next door. He has six workers running six CNC machines. The fact that he had six shocked me as at Pelsue we only have one. Haruka’s father produces plastic, acrylic, fiberglass, and bake-light parts (nipples, end caps and so on). At the steak house I have him order mainly because I don’t want to order something too cheap or expensive. He orders us each a steak with corn and rice on the side, as well as beer and a side salad for me. The steak arrives on a piping hot cast iron skillet, but was still medium rare through out most, very good food. I struggled to finish it all as I did not want to be rude and not finish. When we return to the house I met his wife and Haruka’s younger brother, and they gave me a cell phone to use for the next three days while I am staying with them, so I can get a hold of anyone. Now I sit in my room sweating with the AC on, the humidity is killer.

So in short:
Plane: eel on rice, cold soba, vegi’s, free all you can eat soyjoy and other snacks, mushroom and ham with rice, fresh(ish) fruit and other oddities(I passed on the Haugen Daiz ice cream)
Tokyo: Steak medium rare, corn, salad, beer, and rice.



Day 2(22nd):
Went to Meji shrine with Haruka's father and brother. We also had brunch with them. I had Alaskan king crab on pasta with a tomato sauce and a plate of fried taco (octopus) with tomato and jalapeno puree. In the evening Haruka invited some of our friends for a little party, they had pizza and I had some yakisoba that Haruka's mother made. It was fun. Oh, Haruka's father also gave me three duffles to pack my clothes in, he says he no longer uses them, but I still feel guilty for getting them.

Day 3(23rd):

We went to Asakusa and I got a coin purse and then we went to Akiba to look at cell phones. I think I might get a pre paid phone but I am still a little confused by the plans. I also looked for a camera charger and they run about 60 dollars, so I will keep looking for mine although I did not find it when I unpacked today(24th). That evening we all went out to dinner (Haruka, her father, mother and brother, Bryan and I) to a japanese restaurant. It was a lot of fun. We had: Sashimi, Whale, Wagyuu beef, Udon, tempura, beer, and syocho(japanese alcohol). I made the mistake of trying to go toe to toe with her father, but soon realized I was out matched. On the way home, his one request to pay him back for the bags and everything was that he wanted a piggy back ride, as no one in his family could give him one. I was down with it.

Day4 (24th)

Today we moved in to the dorm and learned that our CoE would not be available for at least another week or two. Now just settling in before the professor arrives tonight.






So in short:
Plane: eel on rice, cold soba, vegi’s, free all you can eat soyjoy and other snacks, mushroom and ham with rice, fresh(ish) fruit and other oddities(I passed on the Haugen Daiz ice cream)
Tokyo: Steak medium rare, corn, salad, beer, and rice. King crab pasta, fried octopus with jalapeno puree, Yaki soba. Sashimi (Tuna, Salmon, octopus, and others unknown), Whale, Wagyuu beef, Tempura shrimp and vegi's, Udon, and osake.