Continuing the adventure...

Hello again!

 Blog Post #3 so... have I been here 3 weeks?  I am losing track. I just returned home from the ongoing adventure I like to call "Jenn's Attempts at Staying In Shape" Given my ominous track record of gaining weight while living abroad (too many cervezas in Mexico / too many dumplings in Prague) I've decided to get back on track RIGHT AWAY here in Japan.

Attempt at being active #1: Jogging
This is going well, given my weak-ass leg condition, but I can only go about a mile before being wobbly legged! Plus, is my hip supposed to clack like that? Maybe I'll just do push ups in the park....

Attempt at being active #2: Working out in the park
Well, this is going well, I'm creepily doing push ups and sit ups in a remote corner of the park which turns out to be where everyone grabs a quick smoke on their way home. That's right children, cower in fear of the weird white lady breathing heavily next to the swings.

Where was that cheap gym I keep hearing about?

Attempt at being active #3: Finding the gym
HORRAY after 3 days of google searching and painstakingly translating street names, I have located my local gym! Only 400 yen per use (around 4 dollars). I'll just stroll on in and start pumping iron. What's that you say? You speak zero English and I have to take a "free class" in order to work out??? Maybe I'll just do group volleyball....

Attempt at being active #4: Volleyball
OMG, are all Japanese people training for the Olympics in volleyball?? I forgot I suck at this. Maybe I'll pick a different night to suck at 2 out of 3 things that I attempt ( 1 out of 3 being breathing and circulating oxygen through my blood stream. WIN 1 for Jenn in Tokyo, normal body function!)

BUT I am not deterred, I refuse to show up in Maui a complete beach ball (although I doubt I will go near another volleyball again while here).

Silver lining... I will be beginning my Japanese classes soon, so look out Tokyo! Jenn's about to communicate with you using something other then frantic nodding and hand gestures!

Other silver linings...

Japanese porter, thank you decent beer Gods! (but no thank you for the 1000 Yen price)

Delightful house luncheon, these asian chicks really know how to cook!

Famous 5 way intersection at Shibuya (and even crazier at night) taken from the windows looking out at the world's busiest Starbucks!

Adorable and kind housemates, made me delicious fish soup!

Stay classy everyone and also stay in touch!!

In the Land of My Students!

I have been here a week and many things have happened (although officially teaching isn't one of them). I am happily cruising around Tokyo, spending way too much money and trying to cram everything in while I have the time. When I travel, I am always more exuberant about my experiences in the beginning, so we'll see how "interesting" this blog will remain as the months role by!

I saw a shrine at Asakusa, went to karaoke and have been indulging in Izakaya (Japanese delicious and cheep bar food) See pictures below for more details! The weather has also been crazy, it's sunny and windy today while last night we had a typhoon warning!

Here's my buddy Yiphan and I at the Asakusa Temple in Tokyo. Yiphan is from China but learned English in Philadelphia. He teaches at Rikkyo with me. 

Here's me pretending to wear a Kimono. Can you tell I'm just pretending?? This was in a crazy foreigner friendly shopping center at Asakusa.

Some pretty coy at the temple. 

Yiphan and Francois. Fancois is French Canadian and teaches with us as well. There are MANY Canadians on staff, I often have to watch who I'm talking to lest I offend them with my Canadian mockery. The same goes for using my fake British accents(s) when I'm near our British staff : )

Here's my "team" at an Izakaya restaurant. Izakaya is a restaurant that has  cheap Japanese tapas. You sit around and eat and drink for long periods of time. There are four teams of teachers who basically support each other and work in the same office throughout the year. We're the "red team".  

Kampai (cheers)! At least I've found BIG beers, even if I have yet to find dark ones : (

A pretty view at my school. Rikkyo is a university and all freshman HAVE to take our English conversation classes. So, I am like a real professor at a university here... .muahaha!

I hope everyone is doing well back home and elsewhere! I am slowly getting adapted to life here. Next steps: obtaining a cell phone, gym membership, and Japanese classes.

To be continued....