The first days

Good afternoon~

Another rainy day here in Yokohama. It's actually supposed to continue to be rainy for the next week, which is disheartening. This is not the rainy season (and it's not Galicia either), so I don't know what's up.

Yesterday, I got a lot done.

Went to the nearby convenience store (7eleven!) for breakfast. It is literally across the street. My whole neighborhood is super convenient. I'm really really happy with my apartment and neighborhood. It's really so great.

So, after a quick breakfast, my roommate Erika and I were walking toward the station, and I see THIS:

THIS is the super market that I bought all my cheap groceries from 2 years when I was studying abroad at Keio, so it's filled with nostalgia. I went shopping there this morning for groceries and it was the best thing. I'm really happy that it's here.

Our first stop was the Kuyakusho（区役所）, or ward office, where we got registered as living in Japan, received an official ID, and signed up for the national health care. Interestingly, the ID card for foreigners is a bit different from 2 years ago, when it was called "Foreigner Registration Card". Now it's called "Residence Card". In other words, Japan has gotten a bit more politically correct. The process to get a card also seems to have gotten easier, which is nice.

Our next stop was Minatomirai, which is where the IUC center is where I'll be studying. The center is actually only a single floor inside of an office building where a lot of official looking people work, which was different than I expected. There's also a large shopping center nearby, where Erika and I did some shopping.  

We bought some little needed things at the dollar store (Daiso) and then we checked out a sale at Tokyu Hands and I bought THIS:

This is a baby blender so I can make smoothies and soup things. It's the best thing I'm so happy with it. It's going to be my best friend.

When we got home, Erika and I were planning on going shopping for groceries after an hour or so, but we both ended up crashing until this morning. Haa jetlag. Plus, this sticky weather doesn't help.

Today, we got the grocery shopping out of the way, paid our rent, and Erika has gone out to set up a bank account, but I got caught up sending emails and reviewing and such, so I probably won't go out for the rest of the day. I'm still also suffering with my cough, so this is probably for the best.

Tomorrow, though, I really want to go visit my old neighborhood in Hiyoshi and hang out in the department store and bookstore like old times. Hopefully, I'll feel well enough to do that.

Until then!

Yokohama, "tadaima!"

Good morning!

I arrived in Narita yesterday at 4pm and it's like I'm back home rather than visiting somewhere for the first time. The difference from when I arrived last time was noticeable right away. Once the inspectors saw my passport and that I had lived in Japan before, they were like "Oh, you've been here before so of course you can understand everything I say". It's like I was accepted into the cool club. Not a bad feeling.

Like last time, I ended up taking the limousine bus to the Yokohama Airport Terminal and a taxi from there to my apartment because I knew I would get lost if I went by myself and it was raining so... It was only $40 total so I'm ok with it.

The taxi drive was a lot different than last time though! I actually had a nice conversation with the taxi driver and I got some laughs out of him hehe... He was real nice and helpful and made sure I was in the right place and everything. Soo great.

Ok, now I'll give you a quick tour of my apartment:

 This is my room! I was hoping for tatami mats and it IS. YES. It's actually pretty spacious. I could easily fit two people on the floor for a sleep over. There is also a floor desk and pillows to sit on so I can work on the floor like I like to do! The view is just of other apartments so not too interesting but the lighting is okay.

 This is my kitchen/dining area! A tiny fridge, sink, LOTS of tupperware. Yes.

 I have never seen one of these in my life but it is fairly normal? It's a water heater in the sink so to wash your face and dishes etc. with warm water. So, water is normally cold unless you use this.

 My toilet comes in a tiny room with no ventilation. It's cute...?

Of course, my shower/bath is it's own room. To take a shower, you just stand up on the tile floor and spray yourself, which is different than I'm used to but I'm sure in the winter, I will be taking many warm and toasty baths!

Ok, that's it for now. Today, my roommate, Erika, and I are going to run errands and such, so I'll let you know how that went later!

Byebye for now!