One Month!

So Gary and I have officially been here for one month! It's hard to believe, in some ways it feels like we've been here longer in that we already feel pretty comfortable in the city, getting around etc. It doesn't feel TOO foreign actually. That could just be because we've lived in other countries before too, I don't know. We've accomplished a lot on getting the feel of some of Tokyo...this city is HUGE and it will take us a LONG time to see all of it, if we ever manage that even! There are still areas of Mexico City we didn't see after living there for 7 years.. though we covered most of it!  We have 2 months left on our tourist visas and we are working on trying to change our residency status from tourist to resident. We hope to do that from Japan and avoid a trip back Stateside to finish the paperwork, hope we can do that as I'm anxious to get an apartment and get started on Church stuff!
Anyway, we had to run some errands the other day, we got a bit turned around in one of the subway stations (trust me, this is easy to do!) but we eventually made our way to our appointment. Afterwards, since we were near that side of town we stopped to do a little more exploring in Shibuya during the daytime this time. It was every bit as busy!

 

                                        I did manage to run into an old friend! 

Mr. Peanut and I!

 
We were getting hungry so started looking for a place to get a bite to eat.. we ran across a couple of interesting places, including this one...

 

Yeah, we DIDN'T eat there!

 

 

Then we found Che Guevarra advertising this... hmmmm.

 

It's probably some special communist powder stuff.

 

 

Yesterday, Gary and I were at a convenience store and I saw a tasty looking treat. it looked like a pocky stick thing, which I love!

 

 

But then I noticed the cute little cartoon puppy on the package and a little seal with a doggy picture on it...SO ClOSE! Even Japanese doggy snacks are Cute!

 

BTW, if you just happen to go into a public toilet equipped for the Disabled, and if you just happen to push a button thinking it's to Flush, it MIGHT turn out to be a button to call for help instead and you might suddenly have a lady talking to you in Japanese and IF you get nervous and don't answer.. they might just send a security person to see if you need help...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The sun is out...quick wash the laundry!!!

It's been rainy and cloudy the last few days and since today is sunny and breezy I'm working on catching up on laundry! I know you all probably think that missionary life is all glamorous etc. but the truth is really much more ordinary than glamorous!
Granted, figuring out how to do the "ordinary" is often times much more of an adventure than back home! Grocery shopping is an adventure, I try to figure out what I'm buying by looking at pictures and sometimes I manage to be right , other times it's a surprise! Especially here in Japan where even the alphabets (yes, all three of them) are incomprehensible! I'm working out figuring out Hiragana, but that still leaves Katakana and Kanji. To top it off Kanji has over 2,000 characters and each character can have more than one meaning! AND Kanji is not technically an alphabet... it's more like communicating via pictures as each character doesn't represent a sound like an alphabet letter, they represent an idea or concept. Very tricky, especially since they will often use all three types of alphabet in a single word...
Speaking of similarities the language is the same way. Words with different meanings depending on where you place the accent while pronouncing the word. For example, the word Shujin means HUSBAND as in my sweet Hubby.

 

 

 

Shujin and me

 

HOWEVER, depending on where I place the accent it also means... PRISONER!

 

Shujin

 

 

And, as any of you who know me and my language skills know, I am FAMOUS for placing accents in the wrong places!  I will DEFINITELY be introducing my husband as my prisoner!  He says its the same thing anyway...

 

This and That!

 

 

Well we went to the Chofu Cultural Center the other day, saw an ad in the English language newspaper saying there would be free immigration help there. We had a few questions so thought we'd check it out. We were met by some very friendly people, and a nice lady who acted as interpreter for us with a lawyer. Our lawyer wasn't certain on how to answer our questions so he went to the trouble to call another lawyer (a veteran lawyer with LOTS of experience he said) and scheduled us an appointment for Wed. at this "veterans" office, and even said he was going to try to meet us there. Very nice people! I really hope we can get all the paperwork done soon so we can get our own place and a church building and get to work! There was a very nice view from the Cultural Center!

Today, it rained all day so apart from a run to the grocery store...(actually a walk with an umbrella) I stayed inside. I was feeling like eating something American today so I bought a few little steaks, made some broccoli with cheese sauce and some potatoes. My local grocery store really doesn't have much in the way of vegetables. I haven't seen any canned veggies, other than tomatoes, and corn. The frozen veggie section only had broccoli and corn and a mixed veggie bag. The fresh produce only carries what's in season..at the moment I think it's leeks and squash! I'm going to have to check out a few different stores, I've never been a big veggie eater anyway, but I do like canned greenbeans on occasion, and calabacitas...(zucchini ..green or yellow).
Anyway, the dinner turned out tasty and I set a plate aside for Atsuko too. Later we can have some leftover Oden soup later that Atsuko made last night..it was delicious
 and full of so many goodies that I have no idea how to say or spell!
Followed the Packer game online today...very disappointing! Nice to be able to stay in touch with people and on top of events back home... how times have changed since the first time we went to Mexico and were lucky to get an occasional letter from the outside world!  Now I can stay in touch with my daughter in Panama or my children or family in the States on a daily basis...how spoiled we are!

Buttons, Buttons Everywhere!

We are currently staying in Atsuko's family home, it is a very comfortable  older traditional style Japanese home. I find the house fascinating because even though it is an older home there are electronic buttons everywhere and for everything.  Every room is sealed off from the other rooms and you only heat the room you're in... very smart and handy. You enter a room, push a button and turn on the heater in that room. When you go into the kitchen/dining area where most of the daily hanging out goes on, you push a button and the FLOOR heats up! You can comfortably remove your slippers and lay your feet on a toasty warm floor! Since I have always suffered from cold feet, I especially enjoy this! In the kitchen there is an alarm that beeps on the refrigerator if you don't close the door tightly. By the kitchen sink there is a button to turn the hot water heater on or off as well as a button to set the exact water temperature for the shower and the bath tub waters. (yes, there are two different faucets for those). Speaking of baths and showers, I have been totally converted to the Japanese bath style. First you take a shower and get completely clean and then you hop into a deep tub (up to your shoulders deep) and SOAK! It's SOOOO relaxing... I love it!  And since the water temperature on the heater is set for the temperature you want it you just turn on the faucet and out comes the water at your preferred temperature..no fiddling with the hot and cold trying to find that right mix!
 It is all very logical and convenient!

Shibuya!

Yesterday was Atsuko's day off and we all decided to drive to Shibuya! Shibuya is probably pretty much Toyo central. It really reminds me of what I imagine New York's Time Square to be like.
Lots of lights, people, traffic and shops! Just crossing the street is amazing!

 

The lights were so bright that even though it was night time it looked like it was day time!

 

We explored the little side streets and by ways... in one alleyway we found this!

 I'm beginning to feel like Where's Waldo with this jacket of mine that keeps turning up in all  the pictures!

 

                                              

 

                                                       
                                                                                                             Sumo dudes!

                                                                    Life size Spidey!

                    Picture taking Japanese style!

 

 

Anyway we saw a lot of the area.. the massive amount of people everywhere you turn is mindboggling. I haven't seen this since Mexico City and Mexico City didn't throw in all the lights and noise!

 

 

I know there are lots of videos in this post but pictures really just can't describe enough the organized chaos of this part of town!

 

But, Atsuko's day off is over, and today we're back in Fuchu. I have laundry to wash, and errands to run!

 

 Till next time!

 

 

 

 

 

Shinjuku!

So yesterday we explored the Shinjuku area...it's more central Tokyo and has skyscrapers and lots of traffic! In the midst of all this though we managed to find a Christian Bookstore! Very Nice!
Then we found something I was VERY excited about!

 

 

We also found a very nice bookstore that has an extensive English book selection! Any of you who know me realize what a big deal that is for me!

Here's a few pics from he area!

                                                              (yes, it was cold!)

 

(anime guy floating over Gary's head!)

 

                                                      

Walk About

This morning we headed out again, exploring more of the Fuchu neighborhood. Fuchu appears to be a pretty much middleclass type neighborhood with a lot going on just about any time of day.
We hadn't eaten breakfast so the first item on the agenda was to find some food! We wandered down a couple of little side streets from the train station.

 

And found a small Tempura shop. (This is really a picture of Gary pretending to take a picture of me but really trying to discreetly get a picture of the tempura shop for you... sorry about my messy hair!)

 

 

Anyway, it was an inexpensive shop and served delicious food! We got a little octopus/seaweed salad appetizer. It tasted like the ocean.. seriously, I remember that flavor(?) while swimming in Panama!

 

 

Then our tempura meals arrived. I had hot udon soup with tempura on rice.

I had NO idea what to do with that giant wooden spoon, no one else had one,(I usually spy on other diners to see what to do), so I just used my chopsticks and left it there.

 

Gary had a set meal, as it's called here.

 

 

After taking care of breakfast we wandered the streets of fuchu a bit. While Gary rested on a bench I went in and explored a temple area. I think all temples have the temple dogs at the entrances.

 

This guy was also on guard...

 

 

 

Here are a few shots...

 

 

 

And a short video.

 

 

I honestly don't know much about Japanese temples or religion, I did just purchase a book by a Christian Anthropologist about Japans history, religions etc. to give myself a bit more insight into the Japanese mindset etc.

 

Whenever we're out and about I like to take pictures of funny English translations that I'll randomly post in my blog.  Check out the Hello Kitty stamp.. Atsuko was pretty indignant by the  "Back to my hometown LONDON!!!!"

 

           Of course we all need to have Scum absorbent sheets handy in the kitchen!

I think we should eat the "healthy menu from my home!" I like the chicken sign in the back too..."This is the real chicken!"

 

  This was the restaurant name right next to the tempura shop we ate at...yummy! (actually it does look good despite the name!)

                        At some point I will buy and try these noodles just for the fun of it!

 

 

Some new Christmas lights were up... the Japanese haven't quite gotten the concept down yet. There are apparently Christmas unicorns...

 

                                                                        owls....

 

                                                                        And fish!

 

 

Until next time!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ten Days!

 

Had a bit of a run around day again exploring different neighborhoods. Looking for an active area near a train stop that has no other Christian church in the area. There are so few churches here that it will be possible to have a whole area to ourselves. Yesterday we hopped a bus and train and ended up at Hajioji, it had been an area suggested to us for being less expensive living wise ,but it was a bit too rural looking and the area around the train station wasn't active really compared to other areas. So we just ate a bowl of Soba at the train station and headed back. The meal was interesting as you bought a ticket from a vending machine and then you took that inside the little restaurant and exchanged it for your meal. The restaurant workers never had to deal with the money at all, they just served up your food at the counter for you, and it was inexpensive too! I had been waiting on Gary when I spied the vending machine and was curious. (You know what they say about cats and curiosity) Anyway, I couldn't figure out how it worked so I just waited around a bit and then a salaryman showed up and I spied on him as he paid and received a ticket, then I saw him take it into the shop and exchange it for food!!!  It was a wonderful thing!!! Lol! I had a Soba with tempura'ed veggies on top, Gary had a soba with chicken and mushrooms, they were both very tasty!

After that we rode the train through a few other neighborhoods and finally came back to Musashi Koganei where we went outside and looked around a bit.

 

It is an  interesting neighborhood and we explored around some of the small streets and alleyways. We also found a nice department store called Nagasakiya that sells reasonably priced (for japan anyway) household goods for when we get our own place.

By then it was dark and time to figure out which bus we needed to get back to the house, which we did! We're getting good at this considering we arrived entirely clueless 10 days ago!

Taking a Bus!

Today we needed to learn to take a bus! We found the proper bus stop to get us to Fuchu Train Station. Our Suica Card (a card you buy that you can recharge and use on trains, buses and in convenience stores)was used to get around. Apparently the buses are boarded in the middle, you swipe your card and then swipe it again when you disembark at the front of the bus.

 

Once arriving at Fuchu Station, we were able to explore the area a bit. We ran into an old ancestor of Gary's.

(I'm not certain yet who he is, but he looks formidable!)

 

Then we ran into another ancestor of Gary's!

 

KFC is the BIG thing around here for Christmas dinner!

 

 

We tried to find the 100 yen store but somehow kept missing it... next time I guess!

We did a little more looking around.

 

 

Then it was time to figure out which bus we were to take back to the house. After asking around a bit we were pointed to the #71,(we both thought the #73 was the right bus) we boarded the #71 and it took us close enough that with a little walk we made it back to the house...however, we saw the #73 pull up right in front of our street as we were walking! Live and learn!  Now that we have the bus situation to the metro and back figured out we are truly mobile and should be able to find our way around all over Tokyo!

p.s.  I rode Atsuko's bike to the store this morning, I didn't crash or run anyone over! (that's actually pretty good since I haven't ridden a bike in a LONG time and because it's really quite an obstacle course out there!

Oh and an obligatory picture for you foodies out there of me eating delicious things from the 7-11 (it's a very popular store here!)

                                                          

Fuchu!!!

Yesterday was Atsuko's day off so we did a little shopping and exploring around Fuchu where we've been staying.  We started off the day with an American style breakfast that I prepared. I found some bacon at the store,(not quite American bacon but close enough... more ham in flavor ),fried egg, and a fried slice.(okay, so that part of breakfast was English). Anyway, having eaten we hit the road! First we went to a store to buy a pillow, then we went to another department store and found these!

They had all sorts of cute little doodads in them!

This one wasn't cute and claims to be popular in America! EEEEK!!!

 

Before we had even made it out of the parking lot to the store we ran across this vending machine! It was great!

There were many great ice cream flavors, blueberry cheesecake, tiramisu, chocolate mocha, and of course:

 

(I think it looks good, I will have to try it next time)

After doing some shopping there to pick up a few things we needed  we went to a different area of Fuchu.

 

 

Of course by then we were hungry so we HAD to stop for some Takoyaki! Takoyaki is a delicious treat that originated in Osaka. Pieces of cooked octopus are placed in batter with other ingredients and grilled. They come out piping hot, round, a little larger than a ping pong ball and delicious! You can have different toppings and they are one of my all time favorite things here!

 

Ours were delicious! We stood right there and ate them up!

Then it was off to enjoy the sights and people of Fuchu! We had read that the people of Tokyo are notoriously un-friendly. So far, we haven't found that to be true at all! We have had no problem speaking with people and getting help with directions etc. Gary just goes up to people and talks to them and they are very nice and let him take pictures even!

 

 

(this little guy insisted on posing for a picture too after we took a Photo of his big brother)

 

 

 

This young Dad and new baby were really cute!

 

And then we were hungry again!!!

(soup, rice and gyoza!)

 

I had Tonkatsu, a Pork based broth that had such a rich flavor!

 

 

It was getting late:

but we still had a few more things to pick up so we headed into the mall which is in full Christmas swing... go figure.

Behind me was a bread shop with this strange sign...

We finally headed home after I taught Atsuko the useful phrase: "Shop till you drop!"

Though truthfully we had only bought a few things, we did explore this area of Fuchu pretty well and had some very tasty food!

AND

Atsuko bought some new slippers!

 

p.s. I also found a new button on one of the toilets..it even had English translation!

I didn't push it as I wasn't certain if it was going to spray ME or what?!