Taking a stroll in Akihabara

Akihabara. The one place to be. When you get to Akihabara, take the Electric Town exit and you'll run straight into anime and manga heaven. Bought some Gacha here but had to go home early to receive the package my family sent from Sweden. (It made me so happy by the way - thank you!) However that's why we're going back tomorrow for some further exploration! 

 

I ate "kare udon" for the first time in my life today in Akiba though and it was absolutely delicious. Oh Japanese food is the best!

 

 

A day in Shibuya

Oh I just love it here. Me and my dear new friends decided to spend the day after school in Shibuya! I must say it felt extemely unreal. We visited Shibuya109 and I was able to walk into a Liz Lisa shop for the first time! No more inconvenient online shopping! I could even speak to the staff! Best. Day. Ever.

 

We also ran into a Disney Store and almost fainted at the sight of all the cute stuff. The Disney Store consisted of 3 floors and soo many things to look at. We saw Pinoccio, we went into Andy's room from Toy Story, and Frozen was everywhere to be seen.

 

Tomorrow's stop is Akihabara - Time to stock up on some Gacha!

School and Tokyo life

Hi! I can't expain nearly how amazing it feels to live here. I can simply buy a magazine, that I'd have to wait forever to get a hold of in Sweden, on the way home from school. And I can eat delicious japanese meals out for around 500 yen!

 

Today we had the first real day of school since we only had orientation yesterday. I have to admit I was really nervous. Mostly because I wasn't too sure about what the others had learned in earlier steps and seeing as I was just kind of thrown into a class with people who already knew eachother and who has had the same teachers and the same learning system it was kind of obvious that there were things they knew better than me or that I hadn't even gotten into at the University back in Sweden. However, despite that, everyone was very helpful and understanding. And if it does turn out I can't keep up, they'll just let me move down one level.. I really don't want that to happen either way so I'll study hard! It's funny though, because the friends I've made so far are all from a lower level... Maybe I should join them after all, haha.

 

The educational books we got actually do seem very good, although they are completely in Japanese. One thing I rather like about KAI is that if there is something you don't understand or you can't read - you write it down and look it up after class. KAI is very centered around personal progress by using only Japanese and trying to communicate despite not always knowing every word. It creates a nice learning atmosphere in the classroom where you try your best and also help out others if they stuggle.

I paid a total of 3,900 yen today for the education materials, including some books and some files on the internet. 

My homework schedule... Wish me luck!

I also finally got a Suica card today, and it's just as I thought it would be. You simply charge it with money. The minimum is 1,000 Yen and when you charge the card for the first time you have to pay a deposit of 500 yen that you will get back once you return the card, and that is definately not much money for something you'll use A LOT when you live in Tokyo.

 

In Tokyo!

HELLO! I finally have Internet connection! I brought sooo much stuff with me and even so I forgot the power adapter and the ethernet cable adapter for my computer. I have to admit I panicked there for a while with the battery running low on my mobile phone and no way to recharge it. Also, without my phone I would have had no one to turn to. Thankfully I got to know my awesome flatmate! Her name is Mayumi. We share bathroom and kitchen together. When I arrived she had left me a present as for becoming her new "roommate". I actually really like it here so far.

First day here I checked out the neighbourhood and every department store. Quite happy to have a 7-Eleven around the corner, because it has an ATM that accept foreign cards, like very other 7-Eleven here. Thank god for that, since in Japan they mostly use cash for everything. It doesn't take long to remember what coin is which though, since you use them everyday to buy train tickets and so on. I have only been here a couple of days but I think that I'll get a Suica card soon. It reminds me of the transportation system we have at home in Sweden, where you just charge a card with money and use it until the money runs out. Atleast that's how I think it works here too. I'll let you know.

Second day I visited Shinjuku and bought a japanese mobile phone battery charger as well as a real futon and a pillow. Now I can sleep! The staff at the store was so helpful! Altough it was quite difficult to carry everything back to my apartment, mainly because it was heavy and because it was super HOT outside.

Third day here I pretty much stayed in all day, because of the typhoon, which means that it constantly rains. Just rain and rain and rain..... I only went out to buy some necessary stuff, and to eat food.

 

Fouth day (today) I went to the Minato-Ku Ward Office and registered my residence. I also got a National Health Insurance. After that I visited a park close by the office. It was very beautiful! Beware of the extreme photo bomb that follows!

 

  

A while ago I went to Akihabara. I forgot to take pictures though... But hey, we already got too many pictures in this post.

Talk to you soon! Tomorrow I have orientation at my school - wish me luck!

In Moscow

Right now I'm in Moscow, waiting for my next flight to take me to Narita Airport. It's been an exciting journey so far. I just hope everything works out fine. I have a tendency to mess things up but I hope I won't this time! The flight to Moscow took around 2,5 hours so it was pretty quick. It was a regular little tiny airplane, much smaller then the one I will take next. I did get a little sandwich and soda for lunch though, which was very nice.

 

I have about an hour left to spend looking around the Moscow Airport before I get to board the flight. Wonder what I should do...

 

When I arrive at Narita Airport I will have to take the train to Tokyo which will take about an hour, and then I will meet up with my landlord at the station near where I'm going to live, like I told you earlier. After that I will probably just sleep for a little while. My flight attendant friend told me to do that in case I can't fall asleep on the plane.

 

Talk you to later!