Wanderings
Wandering through out the city alone is the best way that I have discovered of learning how to get around and what the city offers. I have discovered concreate parks with small gysers, 100 yen shops, temples, embassies, gardens. Tokyo is a place of scensory overload. Between the language that is still distant to me, lights that are blinky and running regardless of the natural light of the sun, buildings that hurt your neck because you are looking up so high, and being shoved so everyone can fit on the train; my mind never rests and that is ok with me!
I have been lucky to find friends who also enjoy exploring. From going to the zoo, renting a kareokee room, exploring the Roppongi hills, to seeing Harajuku girls as well as starting classes, unpacking and forming relationships. One week has been jammed pack with a lot.
This picture was taken from the top of one of Tokyo's tallest buildings, The Mori Tower. Courtesy of Sam.
Pagodas, as well as Temples and Shrines, can be randomly seen through out the city. This one is in Ueno park, and was taken during my walk through the zoo.
Well this is a beer machine.... and it is wonderful. Vending machines for cigs and drinks, as well as beer, are EVERYWHERE!
What Tokyo streets looklike in most places.
The Sakura House Girls before a night of Kareokee for Ali and Jenny's birthday extravaganza!
The foreigners at their favorite bar with their favorite Otkasan locals!
Becky rocking it out
Italian dinner in Japan. Tim, Myself, Kristina
Where I live (except this is not my bedroom or my picture, but trust me it is exactly the same)
And we will close on this one.
A lot of pictures for a lot of memories and only more to come, but I am going to promise the next entry is a tale of a dream come true!
From the future,
Stephanie
stephanie.flanagan@temple.edu
Taking over
Hello everyone!
So i made to Tokyo! After a 15 hour flight, 1hour and 45 mintue train ride,
40minute rail ride, and a 20 minute walk up hill wiht my bags, i made it!
I had my first day of orientation today, we walked around the night life district
of Roppongi and saw the hills. but yesterday was the day i was most proud of. it
was my first full day (The first night was great too, we set off fireworks in
komomawa, also known as the olympic park for the tokyo games when they
hosted it-btw fireworks are sold at all the AMPM's and 7-11's, which they have
here! haha) but yesterday i figured out the rail systems on my own and got off at
random stops. i ended up at Emperor Meiji's gardens. 68 acreas of ground and
trees and paths with grand wooden enterences. it was beautful peaceful and
moving. i went to the hirajuka district and saw hirajuka girls (b-a-n-a-n-a-s!).
haha. I also experienced another section call Gotonda. Tokyo is huge! However,
you can get ANYWHERE by rail. their subways dont jsut go south and north like
the Broad Street Line.
Everyone from philly: Be jealous! it is huge beautiful, clean, the peopleare kind.
the homes are fasinating. the homes and business are built right up to the
street, no front lawns, no drive ways, no sidewalk (main roads there are some
sidewalks). i live in a town that is an hour outside of tokyo by trains, and i take
3-4 trains depending on how i go. transportation adds up. when ben brought
me to my house he said "your neighborhood reminds me of a japanese south
philly" haha, but i dont think that really gives you a great idea. the
neighborhood is so cute, and great fresh grocery stores and a 100 yen store are
right down the street from me as well as the train station. every town has a
different atmosphere, but everytown also is completly tokyo, if that makes
sence.
a ton of school sponcered events are coming up, including a Sake testing night,
a hot springs trip and many more, so i will keep everyone updated on my wanderings.
I went to Ueno zoo,
Ueno Park, and an open air district with food and fashion. i am writing you to
share about the amazing people i have met and the experiences i have shared,
but most of all the animals at the zoo that japanese individuals spent 20mintues
in line waiting for! hamsters and rabbits! haha. i love life here. i have to do a few
strange things like never wear shoes inside, i have experinced a couple of small
earthquakes aleady, no homes are built out of brick, they only pretend to be
built by brick but brick would crumble in an earthquake, fresh food goes on
sale the last hour the grocery store is open, subway an trains only run until 12
and start up at 5 am but b/c of that bar stay open until 530am. my
neighborhood does not speak much english so i have learned a lot of japanese
real fast (a lot meaning 'I am sorry' 'excuse me' and 'i'm fine'). everything is wonderful, and i start classes on monday. on friday
temple is hosting a sake testing event and i am going to a hot spring on
saturday.,.
Oh life! it is going to be wonderful!
Good luck to everyone as they start their new school year.
I miss everyone so much, I will be updating this regularly instead of sending mass emails, but defiantly keep in touch with what you are doing and I will with out a doubt respond.
From the future,
Stephanie
Stephanie.Flanagan@temple.edu
