Hello everyone, greetings from Atsugi, Japan! I'm doing awesome. We've had quite the trip so far and lots more too come. Day one we arrived at Narita airport from seattle and hopped on buses to drop my classmates and I at the our apartments which are spread out through the area of atsugi all of which are about 15 20 minutes walk to Kanagawa Institute of Technology. Along the way to the apartments our bus pulled onto the sidewalk to let us off and ended up breaking one of the small sidewalk stones where beneath all the drainage and such go into.
We finally made it to our stop after they sent another bus to get us within about 10 minutes. Then came the fun part! that 15 20 minute walk we take to the main road became forever with all our awesome luggage for the 6 of us who live furthest from the main street (will post pics of the area and the apartment soon). Our apartment is right next to a temple I plan on visiting. My roommate Justin and I got settled and I went and walked around town with a few others to check out food and convenience stores. After then I made an attempt at sleeping to no avail because of something awful destroying my stomach. Anyhow my stomach repaired it self in a couple days.
The next day, Friday, we went to orientation, after words the majority of us went into Hon Atsugi, the downtown area which you see above. We explored there and got our Pasmo cards which is a card for the bus and train. Then we began to explore the town and see what we can see while the sun was in our favor. There are so many amazing arcades and restaurants and everything is really clean and the people very friendly. The arcades are everywhere and insane, as well are the bowling alleys.
The next day a group of about 11 of us went to the TOKYO GAME SHOW which is the biggest game convention this side of the earth. This was no easy task. Very expensive and very far (sort of) we took a long trip to the other side of tokyo near disney land tokyo (which ive no interest in seeing) to the messe convention hall. It was packed with the newest and latest game innovations and lots of booth babes (models hired to show off the games).
After that we regrouped for the trek back to Hon Atsugi. We split up there and all searched out dinner. Four others and I found a very nice traditional Japanese restuarant with fantastic food and drinks. BEST SASHIMI IVE EVER HAD! The grilled fish was amazing as well though I do not know the name of any of it because I was so zonked out from the trip back.
The next day Justin, Michael and I went to Shinjuku, wear I picked up a significantly inexpensive new Ipod Touch and we went exploring most of that area. We went up a tower and watched some dancing which was a promotion for the Olympics in 2016 which they want in tokyo. After that we got lost in Yodabashi Camera which is the biggest electronics store in Japan which in Shinjuku is about 8 different buildings with about 7 different floors of things each building had different things. It was absolutely insane. Then once we got outta there after 2 hours we went to Harajuku the big fashion district which was jam packed with people mostly girls. It was intense. We also got caught up in a shinto celebration which was awesome to see.
After harajuku we ducked back to hon atsugi then hung out for a bit got some ramen and went back home. During the week we are avoiding the trip to tokyo except for field trips. But anyhow this town is still pretty lively. Everything is very expensive so if you feeel like throwing me some money go for it JK i'm ok for the moment key word! The classes are good nothing new for me japanese language, photo and art history interesting things that I'm good at. So far the foods great, the towns awesome, the people are nice and everyone in my class seems pretty cool.
If you want to get ahold of me look me up on skype, email me, facebook, anything internet I'm going to get a prepaid phone at some point but I'm putting it off for the moment. I will be posting an address soon as well as more photos of my abode. Wish me luck and I hope to hear from you all as soon as possible.
