at home

So it's Day Three, and it's already feeling much like home, which I really didn't expect to happen so soon. I guess in a way, it's because I was pleasantly surprised. Our apartment is bigger than I thought it would be (just ignore the insanely strong fish smell when you walk in the stairwell), and it reminds me of a New York or D.C. Just cleaner. And much more friendly. And they drive on the wrong side of the road. I wish desperately that I spoke at least a little Japanese, but they're so patient and kind anyhow.

Today was Jess' first day at work. He's working at a law firm called City Yuwa, which is located in downtown Tokyo, just across from the Imperial Palace. This morning, I "walked" him to work (we rode the subway - please picture a bunch of men in suits and me, in my runners and shorts) and then hopped on the Palace trail and ran home. Despite my oh-so sore legs from all the walking, and the blustery weather we had this morning, it was beautiful. It's so green here, and it hasn't gotten hot quite yet. I imagine it's relatively miserable when it gets hot, as I already sort of just have perma damp skin from the water in the air.

But I'm loving it here. I ventured out on my own today to find a "dollar store" (which involved a line change on the subway, thank you very much). These are much like our dollar stores, but they're huge - this one was four stories. Our apartment came equipped with the basics, but there are a few things we need, and if you buy in Tokyo, you pay much more than it's worth, plus your first born child. So I went and found some cheap towels and such. And then I might have stumbled down a side street of little boutiques ideal for perusing and experiencing with my newly found yen. :)

I put together a little slide show of our first few days. There are, of course, many more pictures, but I tried to be selective for your sake. :) At the first, you'll see the little street we live on (we're that first balcony above the red car), and at the end, just after the working man, the red brick building is where Jess works. And then just some random shots of Tokyo that we've taken as we've been out and about.

So it's strange. But this crowded place is fast becoming home. I'm grateful and feel very lucky. It's truly the experience of a lifetime. I hope I can remember that. And enjoy this home while I have it. :)

subway stupid

So yesterday we bought our subway passes. And we assumed that the little arrow on the card was indicating that we should insert it into the gate (similar to how we would do it on the subway in D.C., our most recent point of reference). So we slid the card in, and the gate started whirring and making all sorts of funky noises. So the gate attendant walked over with an understanding look on his face (hmmm...I wonder if he'd had to fix this before?) and pointed to this blinking electronic pad of sorts. Then opened up the machinery, extracted our subway card, and moving the card above the pad said, "Touch."

Two empty stares.

"Touch."

Oh, so that's what the touch pad is for.

Stupid Americans.

PHOTO: Babysitting, Tokyo style. Actually, behind this cart is a trail of little people walking. It appeared to be a field trip, and the smallest legs got to ride in style.

packin' it on

So as it turns out, I have the potential to gain massive amounts of weight here.

We arrived at the Narita airport, and Jess brought me two yummy Japanese drinks - Pocari Sweat (I know, excellent name, but it's good - kind of like Fresca/Sprite) and Calpis (the closest thing I can compare it to is the white SoBe drink, but not so sweet - it's my favorite), both deliciously refreshing and of course, full of sugar.

Then this morning, we stopped at Lawson's (a convenience store - they're everywhere) to pick up a few Japanese pastries on our way into town. Oh I'm sorry that the Swiss Roll is like heaven. It's like a Twinkie, but good. And I - of course - also picked up some grape gummy candies. (Why don't we have those in the U.S.? Why?!) And then we got lunch at this tiny restaurant in the subway, where we both pointed to our food as they kept yelling this funny phrase over and over to people walking by (it's like a welcome phrase, welcoming people to join their lunch crowd). And I pretty much DEVOURED both my and Jess' lunch. (I'd tell you what we ate, but like I said, we pointed. They cooked. We ate.)

So you'd think that without all my American fried food, I'd lose a few. Not happening. My Japanese cuisine has only just begun. Good thing I've already scouted out the Imperial Palace trail. I'm going to be running it over and over and over again. And I'll be happy to do it. Just keep those Swiss Rolls a-comin'. :)

potty humor

So I knew I was going to love Japan when, at the airport while waiting for our luggage to descend from the death grip of baggage claim, I made a pit stop. (The middle seat is not so ideal when the Japanese man in the aisle won't wake up!) So I walk into the bathroom and there are these random signs next to each stall. I had no idea what they meant, but I was in need of a toilet, so I assumed that a toilet is a toilet, whether it speaks English or not, and I proceeded on my mission.

I was greeted by one of the greatest toilets I have ever seen. It had about 20 buttons on one side, and a map on the wall next to the toilet explaining the use of said buttons (dead serious). You could, of course, use the bidet and choose the water pressure of your liking, but my most favorite feature was the "flushing sound." In case you don't want to be heard taking care of business, you can turn on the flushing sound (you choose the volume, naturally) to make sure you have your privacy.

And the random sign next to the stall? It was like water squirting - to indicate the presence of a bidet, I believe, as the other stalls didn't have a squirty sign, and didn't have a bidet. Or a flushing sound.

And then we got to our little apartment, and what did I find? That the toilet had been "SANITARIZED."

I love this place.

arrived

departure: 8:51 a.m., Saturday, May 17
arrival: 1:40 p.m., Sunday, May 18
actual flight time: 12 hours, 52 minutes
total air miles: 5,708
hours of sleep: maybe 5 (Jess even less)
best Sudoku time: 10:33
worst Sudoku time: 25:30 (I am hopeless)
number of times I cursed Sudoku: countless
number of Middle Eastern Sprites: 1
minutes I lasted watching The Golden Compass: like 7 (what the?)
number of pages I read of Moby Dick: 10 (27 Dresses came on just in time to save me from my literary goals)
visits to the lav: 1 (for me, ZERO for Jess - he's a mutant)

number of swollen ankles I have: 2
number of beds in our apartment: 2 (twins...hee hee)

SO ready for bed. My very own Asian bed (and yes, it's very close to the ground). :)

Stay tuned for updates...

flying time

It's interesting how time passes. I mean, when you really stop and think about it. We've been in Utah for almost two weeks. But it feels like we got here yesterday. And we've managed to see all of zero people on our "people to see" lists (except family, of course), as our running around is pretty much continual.

And time just keeps slipping right through our fingers. Last night I took a long look of the Salt Lake Valley, the last glimmers of sunset holding on. I've missed that mountain outline surrounded by sunset colors. And I've missed home. It's strange that we leave so soon. I feel all sorts of emotions - an ache at leaving the home I've been missing, sadness at the things I didn't do before I left, the people I didn't see, but an undeniable excitement at the new home that awaits me.

I know I will be overwhelmed and scared and TOTALLY stressed out because that is just how I am. But I can't help but be excited about the adventure I'm about to embark on with my most favorite friend. I just love the boy, and if I'm going to jump into something pretty much blindly, I wouldn't want to jump with anyone else. (Plus, he speaks the language, which is pretty handy.) I'm excited for the new world I'm about to discover - the funky smells, the short little Asians (we are so going to stick out with our height and his flaming hair - they call it "gin-ga" [ginger]), the culture, the new treats (they have the best gummy candies), running routes through crowded Tokyo streets. I want to experience every minute, live it all, find every experience I can and just let them wash over my ignorant American mind.

So I'm just trying my best to not think too ahead of myself. Let's just make it to Tokyo, and take it from there.

And in the mean time, I'm going to enjoy every minute with my Jess, cramped in a coach seat, giggling about the money we saved as we become delirious from serious lack of sleep.

Stand by for updates. I'm told I'll have Asian Internet when I get there. I hope the Internet speaks some English. ;)

home sweet

So here is the first view of our home in Tokyo. A mere (approximate) 500 meters from the Imperial Palace.

A close up for ya'll:


I'm currently trying to memorize the dang subway stop by my apartment. Kujimachi. Say it with me. Kujimachi.

It's total jibberish. What sort of word associations can I create out of jibberish? :)

Does anyone else find it totally bizarre that I'll be in Tokyo this Sunday?

Kujimachi. Kujimachi.

strange love

So if you've read this, you probably harbor, on some level, a love for vampires. And I know that if you haven't read it, you think we're crazy. But really, vampires are just so hot. (Ask anyone who has read it.) I will admit that I don't agree with the long, drawn-out series the author has created out of this, as we all just want the main characters to live happily ever after (and let's admit it - we are all living vicariously through Bella, and happily ever after with a hot vampire is always fun). And I'll admit that the books are bordering on trendy and obsessive, which drives me batty. But...

...the writing is incredible and sucks you in, so I can't complain too much. After all, you are talking to the girl who will throw a book out for the smallest of reasons. I'm a self-admitted book snob. If the grammar or punctuation is off (I won't name names, but...) or if it gets dirty, the book goes in the garbage. I love reading. I love good literature, the way certain words put together in just the right combination can convey a world of feelings, a world that isn't my own but that I get to experience anyhow. And when I find good literature, especially good contemporary literature, I stick with it. Promote it even. This world needs more quality in our written word, so when I find it, I love to share it.

So now would be a good time to announce that I also have a not-so-secret love of aliens. Small, silvery ones - souls if you will.

I love them.

Read it.

poppy shots

So Jess and I stopped by the local camera shop (of course we did - actually, we may have left our tripod in Durham and are looking for a suitable replacement). And while there, I ran into my most favorite teacher, Mr. Holt. I had Mr. Holt for band through middle school and then high school, as he moved to the high school the year that I moved up. He was a phenomenal teacher - he believed in his students and encouraged us to succeed. And he was a friend. Mr. Holt retired from full-time teaching when he began losing his hearing (too many years of bad notes from marginally talented high school students :) ).

Mr. Holt mentioned that he had just been out shooting pictures of the bear-claw poppy. I had never heard of the little flowering herb, but the bear-claw poppy is an endangered species, native only to St. George. They dot the hills very sporadically, and apparently they're running out of time. Jess and I went on a quick scavenger hunt and snapped a few shots. Pretty little things.

zion inspired thoughts

1. So I'm not made to exercise. I don't think I'm genetically designed for it. I decided this today when Jess and I were hiking in Zion. You see, years ago, I decided to reverse the track that my genes were destined to follow, and I adapted my body to run. I taught it how to press through mile after mile. And after years of practice, many of my sentences now begin with, "So this morning when I was running," and I've developed a love of running. But my point is, it was a learned behavior.

This whole hiking thing? Okay, I actually like it. But only when the sun isn't making me sweat profusely. It was at that point today, sweating it out as I climbed a never ending trail, that I determined that I'm not genetically set up to exercise. Plain and simple.

2. Speaking of sweat. So I was sweating bullets as I hiked up the never ending path of Hidden Canyon Trail. And as I wiped the sweat from my dripping brow, I noticed my hands were a sort of orange hue. Hello Jergen's Natural Glow. Glow gone. :)

3. Speaking of the Hidden Canyon Trail. So you hike a mile uphill to Hidden Canyon. Well, it gets you to the mouth of Hidden Canyon. But then the adventuresome souls can take to scaling cliffs and jumping off slippery slate to continue up the slot canyon. Well, I got tired of ascending, and Jess decided he just wanted to see a "little" further. A half hour later, I began to panic and started up the canyon in search of my husband. I came to a sort of end, and turned back as there was no redhead in sight. I figured he had continued up the cliff that I didn't want to attempt (as my stupid tendon is way temperamental).

But that didn't stop me from having a full blown panic attack - tears, shaking, the whole bit.

If anyone was wondering, I really, really, really like my husband. And I'm glad he came back alive and had simply lost track of time. And I'm glad that we're now clear on the "leaving the wife behind for long amounts of time in a lonely slot canyon" rules.

4. Speaking of slot canyons. Okay, not really. But we did find this lizard (not in a slot canyon) that was a serious poser. We took pictures of him for a good ten minutes, with our camera no more than a foot away from him.

5. Even though I'm no longer speaking to Achilles, and even though I sweated off my glow, I have to admit that I have been spoiled. I've lived in St. George most of my life, surrounded by some of the most stunning landscapes on this earth. And being so surrounded sort of made me forget they were even there. It was a beautiful day today, especially seeing the day through Jess' eyes, who didn't get to grow up in the shadow of Zion.

What a beautiful earth we have the privilege of hiking (and sweating) all over. :)