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Week 2 In Japan | ||
| Well, it's been almost two weeks in Japan, and things are going just fine. I've been spending most of my time training and working since my last email, but now I have a couple days off. Today I'm heading to Osaka on my own to explore and get lost. I have a subway map, and that's all I need. I should have some cool pictures of that for all of you next week. | ||
Boston | ||
| This was the only good thing about a trip I made to Kusatsu, which cost me 640 yen and was a complete waste of my time. I went there because at the time I was told it was the nearest UFJ, the bank to which I had filled out an application to open an account at Orientation. When I got there, the bank manager told me that I needed my Alien Registration Card to open an account. However, Nova had me get a Certificate of Alien Registration Application when I applied for my card, which they said was good enough to open an account. The conversation with the manager was very difficult because he barely knew any English, which is more than the Japanese that I know. So I called Nova, but they didn't have any Japanese staff on-hand until that afternoon, but I had to work at 1:20. So I was told to try again the next morning, when there would be staff on-hand. So before leaving the next morning, I called to check that they would be there, and surprise surprise, they wouldn't be in until the afternoon, when I would be at work. A couple days ago, I found out about a bank closer by in Kyoto. So I check to see that they had the staff there before leaving, they did, and they explained things to the bank, and I have an account, so now I can receive my cash advance and pay checks from Nova. Hurray! I hate Kusatsu now, though, but this picture amused me. Also, I'm going to get the money for my train ticket back from Nova. | ||
My Bank | ||
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Behind our Apartment | ||
| Our apartment rests against the side of a mountain. All the land around the mountains are packed with buildings and urban clutter, but the mountains are tree-covered. I will get a picture of my apartment from a distance sometime soon. | ||
Just Say NoI have no idea what this refers to. I see it on my way home from work or Yamashina Station. | ||
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Chu-Hi and Suntory WhiskeyChu-Hi is great! (Thanks Mark.) A liter for 180 yen at the grocery store, and it's like a fruit-flavored malt beverage with like 8% alcohol. Whereas a six-pack of light beer (Asahi, Kirin, Sapporo, etc.) costs 960 yen. Chu-Hi is the way to go! Tastes better anyway. I cannot say anything good about Suntory Whiskey, which claims to be "Mild and Smooth," for it is anything but mild or smooth. It's "A Blend of the Choice Whiskies," which must be Old Crow and Kentucky Deluxe. It's horrible, and all I have to mix it with is water. I'll go for Smirnoff next time, which costs less anyway and is way better. I still have some of that Zubrowka crap, too. Kyle agrees that they are both awful. | ||
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