My apartment

[ellienihon]

I have my apartment and my car. Still no internet connection, and I`ve been told that it will probably take two weeks for that to get done. GRRR I forgot how bad the bureaucracy is here. I:m using the internet cafe, but I:m going to bring my own computer-- the keys are set up slightly differently, and I`m tired of correcting each time I have an apostrophe. I also have my updates that I`ve been writing.

Training starts tomorrow. I am supposed to be near Fushimi station at 10am. I went to the local station to get an idea how long it would take and all, and couldn`t figure it out. They didn`t write down the characters for Fushimi, and I`m out in the country where they don`t romanize everything. The best part was when someone finally came along that I could ask, they couldn`t figure it out. I had four Japanese ladies helping me at one point, and they didn`t know how I should get there. I`m sure I can manage, I at least know the characters now. I`m just wondering how in the world they expect Glenn to get there on his own. Well, I`m sure he`ll manage somehow.

I also went out and bought some of the things that I didn`t have in the apartment. I got a pan, can opener, and some other kitchen and cleaning stuff. My local supermarket, Seiyu, has 100 yen day on Tuesdays, so that`s a good thing to know. The only thing I didn`t get today that I really wanted was a small stool to use in the Ofuro (shower/bath). Oh well, I`ll just manage. I asked at Seiyu, and they said I would need to go into a bigger store in another sectoin of the city.

So my address is Komaki city, but it`s more like Poway in relation to San Diego, if San Diego was the size of Poway and Poway was way smaller. It`s a very spread out city, and I think it`s like one of those incorporated places combining several small towns. I really don`t want to drive, but they`ve provided a car, and it looks as though it may be necessary to use it.

I had lunch at a Okonomiyaki shop. The tables have grills in the middle, and this place had several different styles of things you cook on the grill. I chose Manjuyaki, because it doesn`t have as many steps. I cooked the meat, then added the veggies-- cabbage and green onion. Then there was this flavoring stuff I poured in the middle of the crater I made with it all and mixed it up. On top I put these crispy bits. I let it cook a bit, and then ate. It was yummy.

Comments

[thespeaker.livejournal.com]

I really don`t want to drive, but they`ve provided a car, and it looks as though it may be necessary to use it.

On behalf of all Americans (of whom, I'm not actually one of), I beseach you to rice that thing out in revenge for all the Asian kids who rice out their cars over here. ;)

Actually, I guess you should do whatever the American equivalent of ricing would be. Would that be burger it out? Grease it out? 10,000 calories a day it out? Supersize it out? Whatever the case...

You need to stick a cadilac logo on it (in place of the V-Tech logos), you need to put the biggest, heaviest, dirtiest engine you can find in (in place of the tweaked out ricer engines), you need to put huge fins on the back (in place of those stupid after market spoilers) and you need to put huge fat-ass American leather seats in (in place of the bucket seats). Yeah, that'd be cool. ;)

[thespeaker.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I forgot all those dozens of stupid fog lights along the fender, and especially along a roll bar above the car, in place of ground-effects and blue tinted headlights.

[ellienihon.livejournal.com]

You know, this idea is even funnier when you actually see the car (I need to buy memory so I can use my digital camera). It's about 2/3s as long as Inigo, and 3/4s as wide. It's round and cute, and it has the ALTIA logo and phone number on the side. I cna just see my souped up ALTIAmobile now...

[boundwings.livejournal.com]

It sounds great Ellie! I think I want your lunch. Sounds yummy and like a great way to have a meal. I hope you are having tons of fun finding new things, exploring your new city, and settling in.

I miss you!!

[ellienihon.livejournal.com]

It was yummy, but quite messy. Have you seen me try to cook? Try being the operative word in that sentence. LOL

I miss you too. I'm not having such a good day today, but I'll go ahead and get out tomorrow. Thank you.

[boundwings.livejournal.com]

Aww not a good day? I am so sorry. We all have good days and bad days. It doesnt matter where you live. Those bad days always find us. Tomorrow is always a new day. New days mean we dont have to repeat anything and it is a blank canvas to create something for ourselves.

[caprine.livejournal.com]

Keep posting; it's great to hear how you're doing, and interesting to read about your experience of Japan.

I thought Okonomiyaki dishes were all omelettes.

[ellienihon.livejournal.com]

If you liked this, read some of the posts I just put up.

Okonomiyaki is an omelette style dish, but there are other types of -yaki. Hiroshima yaki is with a couple of thin crepe-like pieces and noodles and egg, and Negiyaki is done with green onioins. Yakisoba was also at this restaurant-- more noodles.

[ladykenyon.livejournal.com]

Yay... Ellie is posting.

Ben and I are happy to hear from you.

[ellienihon.livejournal.com]

much more posted now. I hope you two are well.

[tender-bottom.livejournal.com]

Hey Ellie! Glad things are moving along. Have you recovered from the jet-lag yet? Do you like your apartment?

[ellienihon.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty much recovered since Thursday or so. Still waking up easily in the morning, but that's kind of nice. I don't expect it to last, though. I like my apartment, but I want to get the whole food thing figured out so I'm not spending so much.

[only-kiara.livejournal.com]

I am so bummed that I hid away for so long and only re-surfaced in time to see that you have already left. :-(
Well, it sounds like you are having a good time already. That's good to hear.
Best wishes and protection to you, dear.

[ellienihon.livejournal.com]

I meant to try and reach you, but I had too much going on. Feel free to email privately if you want to talk.

[riot-nrrd.livejournal.com]

It's good to hear from you! I miss you already and am jealous of your lunch. Good luck with all the settling-in stuff. And thanks again for the loan of the razor scooter -- it's proving handy for going in to work.

[ellienihon.livejournal.com]

You'll have to come out and let me show you around. It turns out I do have enough room if you can stand sleeping on linoleum with a futon. I can sleep under the kotatsu.

I'm glad the scooter is working out. I don't suppose you picked up the bike?