Sayonara Tokyo, Ohayou Kobe!

 We finished Tokyo orientation and I am headed off to Kobe to meet the junior high school English teacher, my supervisor and my apartment! I’m so excited to see what my apartment looks like in person.  My expectations based on what I’ve been told is that it is on the eight floor (hopefully that means no bugs!), I have no neighbors (kinda sad about this fact) and is quite large.  My predecessor was kind enough to sell me most of her things so I expect I only need to buy an AC, linens and food.  Fortunately, someone will assist me in purchasing items once I arrive in Kobe.

Interesting observations in Tokyo:

These toy/sticker dispensers I never notice in America seem to be popular in Japan.  There is large variety or items that can collect quite a crowd!

Vending machine meals.  Pick out what you’d like to eat and pay at the vending machine.  A ticket will drop down like a soda and you pick up your order inside. It is very similar to MTO Sheetz ( <3 Main St.), but you can not alter the meal combinations.

Lily and I fell victim to the convenient store dinner choices.  Never would I select my meals from this location in America, however the selections in the Japanese convenient stores are much better! (I won't make a habit of this mom ;)  We purchased sushi and my favorite drink-milk tea and set off to find a place to eat.  I guess if you are picking up “to-go” you generally have a place to go eat it so our search for a bench was in vain and we ended up eating at the hotel. womp

Japanese maximize their space.  Note the white line, which signifies the curb.  The baskets are to the left and stretching on either side are tons of items for sale.

I still haven’t gotten to meet up with HSD friend in Tokyo, but I plan on returning to Tokyo  once I am settled into my Kobe apartment.  I should be without internet for about 3-6 weeks.