The day started at 9am and we were finished around 3pm after filling out numerous forms, waiting, filling out more forms and waiting again. And riding the bus inbetween. It must have been very exhausting for the RAs , especially in this hot weather, because they already had the same fun yesterday - only longer. But they were very patient with us, as were the Japanese workers that had to keep telling us where to write what over and over again. One advice should you ever move to Japan: Pratice writing your name in Katakana - you will need it. And grab a Japanese to help you manage this stuff.
While we were sitting in the bank, it suddenly started to rain quite heavily which was funny in all the heat. The bank worker, an elderly man whose job apparently was to stand by the door and greet everyone coming in*, was so worried about us that he gave each of us an umbrella for free. (It was large, transparent plastic umbrellas everyone seems to have here - we even have a nice collection by the entrance of our dormitory).
Once we were finished, a fellow German exchange student I got to know along the way, Laurien, and I decided to go make some copies, visit an eletronics store because I needed an adapter for my devices and grab some food. While looking for the adapter, we even found a Japanese SIM card plan she already knew of, which is only around 1500 Yen per month (roughly 13 euro) and includes everything. So we grabbed this one as well (to be exact, only the activation code so far, the SIM card just needs to be ordered and registered online). Yay!
There are lots of places to eat around Hiyoshi station where the bank was, so we had a hard time to decide.
 |
| Fake food displayed at a restaurant for viewing and salivating |
 |
| The wicked machine |
Eventually we ended up in a place where you have to order your food at a machine! We spent a lot of time in front of that machine before we figured out how it works, applying all our knowledge of the Japanese characters, but were able to order some tasty food (curry, rice, miso soup and salad) in the end which was served to us only a few minutes later.
Another thing that amazed me were hot drinks at a supermarket. Just above the cooled salads, sushi and noodles you have a shelf for hot tea and coffee - I have to remember it for winter.
Having arrived at home after us two, perhaps miraculously, finding our way through the rain, I found out that the adapters I bought didn't fit my plugs. :( No laptop, hair dryer and hair straightener anymore? Impossible! So I had to take a trip to Yokohama where the nearest electronic store was. Little did I know how big and crowded it is there!
 |
| Looks more like Japan now, doesn't it? |
I had a hard time finding the store and explaining to the shop assistant what exactly I needed, even having to type it in his computer. By the time I got the stuff, it was late and I was hungry, but happy. I wish I could have explored Yokohama a little more but I really wanted to get some sleep today ;)
Feels great to have finished so many things all in one day. It's even suspicious how smoothly it is all going until now. Let's see how it turns tomorrow, when we have to attend our orientation at Mita campus (about 45 minutes away by train). A few of us are going meet up early so we can get lost together ;)
Arigatoo gozaimashita for reading and enjoy your evening which is only about to start, I suppose :D
*Actually, the bank door greets everyone by itself, both when you're entering and leaving. And we saw a coworker bowing still deeply to customers leaving in an elevator, long after it was closed. Politeness above everything!
No comments:
Post a Comment