Yesterday I went shopping in Tokyo.

Yesterday I went shopping in Tokyo.
I bought Tide and a big* box of cereal.
HA! ;D I know these are not what people typically think of when they hear the phrase "shopping in Tokyo", but I can't think of anything I could have bought that would have made me happier than these two essentials.
I was there with my friend James...in the international grocery store we laughed about how excited we were to find such basic items as laundry detergent we can identify and cleaning products whose labels we can read. Here they really are rare luxuries found only in select places. We were in the uppity Roppongi district where the grocery store was full of people (ambassadors and such) wearing diamonds like they were going to a gala, and the parking lot was full of BMWs and Audis.

*By "big" I mean a box of cereal that would be considered "normal" size at home, but here is exorbitant compared to the "normal" size Japanese cereal** boxes that last me about 4 days.

**Note of Interest: You know how the cereal boxes at home usually have serving suggestions like, "add strawberries" or "sprinkle on top of yogurt"? Well, in Japan the serving suggestions show pictures of the cereal drizzled with salad dressing and mixed with lettuce and tomatoes.

I went to Starbucks...home sweet home. ??

August 10
I went to Starbucks today (only a 7 minute bike ride from my apt! I'm so stoked!) for the first time since LAX. I felt so awkward and noticeable as I walked from the bike parking area to the door. Every table on the patio had people crowded around it. I'm not sure if this is true or just my perception, but it seemed like everyone was staring at me. I was more-than-ever aware that I look different and stand out in this environment. For some reason it made me feel really defensive-- as though their looks said, "What are YOU doing here?!" and I needed to justify. Inside it was equally packed, and as I approached the counter I felt like I was on a fashion show runway and all eyes were turned toward me. I'm a minority. That's different. Huh...

By the way, there was a man there in his 30s wearing velcro shoes. The fashion (can it be called that? "fashion"?) here is surprising.

Let's catch up!

So I'm about 4 months late with sharing these writings, though there has been much to say. Some of these stories I'm sure you won't believe. I wouldn't, if they weren't my own. About a week or so ago, James, one of the other JET English teachers in my city, commented that if he had heard any of our ("our" means Dave, Lesley, Chris, Matt, Mischa, James, and me) stories before coming here, he totally wouldn't have believed them. He'd have thought, "No way! They're exaggerating!" We all agreed. Even now we are stunned at the absurdity and resulting comedy of SO many of the situations that occur in our daily lives! Others of these entries are just my observations of and reflections on life here. Though perhaps not as entertaining, I hope you will still find them interesting. 始めましょうか？ Hajimemashyoka? (Shall we begin?)

July 28, 2008
I'm in Tokyo. Apparently I live in this country all of a sudden.