I just finished packing everything up for my trip to China. I'm so excited!
I'm nervous as well, I really want everything to go smoothly, and a lot of things have to go right tomorrow. But I think it will, my flight is in the evening so there will be plenty of time for me to get across Tokyo by train. I'm taking the cheapest option, using normal commuter trains to get to Narita Airport, which takes just over 2 hours from where I live in West Tokyo, but only costs Y1,530, compared to the much more expensive express trains or buses.
I think I've got everything ready, and I've arranged to meet the friends who I'm staying with in Shanghai at Pu Dong airport, and then we'll go back to their apartment. Once I'm with them I'll feel much more comfortable about everything. That is until I go to Beijing by myself of course! But I'm sure everything will fall into place and plans will come together.
First things first - flight tomorrow!
I will probably blog about the trip when I get back in two weeks, and I'll also catch up on some of the happenings earlier this month, because I've been so busy recently I haven't had a chance to write everything up. It will get done, I promise!
I'm so happy I'm finally going to China!!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
New Softbank Phone
On Sunday evening I met my friend Kyoko in Kichijoji to upgrade my 2G service phone to a 3G service, because Softbank are discontinuing the 2G service from the beginning of April.
We went into the shop and explained what we wanted (I was counting on Kyoko for translation, because the phone is in her name, as I was under 20 when I bought it in 2008). They showed us two prepaid (Pay-As-You-Go) models that we could get, one that Katy has (about Y4,500), which is a basic phone with a camera, email and of course the ability to call people! The other was more expensive (about Y7,000 excluding the charger) and could access the internet and TV along with other things. But I went for the cheaper one, because I knew I'd never watch TV on my phone.
They were able to keep my phone number, email address, and even my address book on the new phone, which I was very pleased about. And it came with Y6,000 credit already on it, and as I bought it for Y4,500ish, it was better than free!
I'm still figuring it all out, but it's much more stylish than my old one. Although I have noticed that it's slower, probably because of all of the graphics that the old one didn't have.
Hopefully it will serve me well!
We went into the shop and explained what we wanted (I was counting on Kyoko for translation, because the phone is in her name, as I was under 20 when I bought it in 2008). They showed us two prepaid (Pay-As-You-Go) models that we could get, one that Katy has (about Y4,500), which is a basic phone with a camera, email and of course the ability to call people! The other was more expensive (about Y7,000 excluding the charger) and could access the internet and TV along with other things. But I went for the cheaper one, because I knew I'd never watch TV on my phone.
They were able to keep my phone number, email address, and even my address book on the new phone, which I was very pleased about. And it came with Y6,000 credit already on it, and as I bought it for Y4,500ish, it was better than free!
I'm still figuring it all out, but it's much more stylish than my old one. Although I have noticed that it's slower, probably because of all of the graphics that the old one didn't have.
Hopefully it will serve me well!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Good Day For Japanese
Today I met up with a friend I first met at Sakura House two years ago, when she was working there and often visited my building.
She then moved to London, where I met up with her several times whenever I was there. And she's here in Tokyo for a month before going back to London for another year where she's working.
We met in Kichijoji this afternoon, and we greeted each other in Japanese. I didn't think anything of it, because I usually greet Japanese friends in Japanese, and then have to switch to English when I don't understand, but that didn't happen!
I understood virtually everything she said, and anything I didn't understand, she explained in Japanese instead of switching to English. She has really clear Japanese, and spoke slowly so I could catch everything. She's definitely the easiest to understand Japanese friend I have.
And to my surprise, I ended up only speaking a couple of sentences of English the whole afternoon! The first time was by accident, when we were paying the bill for lunch. But all the other times she asked me what the English equivalent was for Japanese sentences she wasn't sure how to translate.
I was so happy! It was the most Japanese I've ever spoken! And it was a great confidence boost, as I am in dire need of speaking practice.
There were times when I wanted to say something, but wasn't quite sure how I'd say it in Japanese, and I usually give up and either just say it in English, or just not say anything at all. But today I forced myself to say more complicated sentences and it turned out that the sentence unfolded as I was saying it! I need to be braver in future!
I did notice that I started a lot of my sentences with the English word "like", and then the rest was in Japanese. So I'll have to try to knock that on the head before it becomes too engrained a habit!
We wandered around Kichijoji, and I tried a Sakura frappuccino in Starbucks, which was very nice, but would be better when the weather's nicer. (Speaking of weather, it's meant to be 21C and sunny tomorrow afternoon, so I'm really looking forward to that! It might call for the first shorts weather of the year, in early March!)
Then we went to Inokashira Park (井の頭公園, Inokashira Kouen) and wandered around for a bit, but then it started to rain, so we headed back to the station.
Hopefully we'll be able to meet up and go to karaoke with some of the other Sakura House people before she goes back to London.
So it was a greatly needed confidence boost this afternoon, I was extremely pleased. And Rob, Matt and I are meeting a Japanese friend who doesn't speak much English for dinner tonight, so I'll try my best to practice more then.
She then moved to London, where I met up with her several times whenever I was there. And she's here in Tokyo for a month before going back to London for another year where she's working.
We met in Kichijoji this afternoon, and we greeted each other in Japanese. I didn't think anything of it, because I usually greet Japanese friends in Japanese, and then have to switch to English when I don't understand, but that didn't happen!
I understood virtually everything she said, and anything I didn't understand, she explained in Japanese instead of switching to English. She has really clear Japanese, and spoke slowly so I could catch everything. She's definitely the easiest to understand Japanese friend I have.
And to my surprise, I ended up only speaking a couple of sentences of English the whole afternoon! The first time was by accident, when we were paying the bill for lunch. But all the other times she asked me what the English equivalent was for Japanese sentences she wasn't sure how to translate.
I was so happy! It was the most Japanese I've ever spoken! And it was a great confidence boost, as I am in dire need of speaking practice.
There were times when I wanted to say something, but wasn't quite sure how I'd say it in Japanese, and I usually give up and either just say it in English, or just not say anything at all. But today I forced myself to say more complicated sentences and it turned out that the sentence unfolded as I was saying it! I need to be braver in future!
I did notice that I started a lot of my sentences with the English word "like", and then the rest was in Japanese. So I'll have to try to knock that on the head before it becomes too engrained a habit!
We wandered around Kichijoji, and I tried a Sakura frappuccino in Starbucks, which was very nice, but would be better when the weather's nicer. (Speaking of weather, it's meant to be 21C and sunny tomorrow afternoon, so I'm really looking forward to that! It might call for the first shorts weather of the year, in early March!)
Then we went to Inokashira Park (井の頭公園, Inokashira Kouen) and wandered around for a bit, but then it started to rain, so we headed back to the station.
Hopefully we'll be able to meet up and go to karaoke with some of the other Sakura House people before she goes back to London.
So it was a greatly needed confidence boost this afternoon, I was extremely pleased. And Rob, Matt and I are meeting a Japanese friend who doesn't speak much English for dinner tonight, so I'll try my best to practice more then.
Sentou Public Baths
Last night Rob, Matt and I went to a public bath (銭湯, sentou) in Tama (多摩). I'd been with them to an onsen (温泉) hot spring last year, so we'd seen each other completely naked before, which is a weird thought! But we all fancied a soak and a bit of relax so Rob and I cycled to near TUFS and met Matt.
The public baths work just like hot springs, but are much more common, and cheaper. It cost about Y400 for us to go in, and there wasn't a time limit, except for the closing time, which was about 11pm.
You first put your shoes in the small lockers near the reception, and then go through the curtain to the changing rooms, 男 means men and 女 means women.
In the changing rooms you completely undress and put your clothes in a locker. With sentou you often need to bring your own towel, modesty towel (to cover areas you don't want other people to see) and shampoo etc. Onsen usually provide these things.
Then you go through into the main bath area and sit in front of one of the mirrors on a small stool and wash yourself all over. Make sure to wash off all of the soap before getting into the bath. In the bath I went to, there was one large hot bath, with jacuzzi-style areas along one wall, and one ice-cold bath. It's quite dangerous to change your body's temperature so quickly so be careful if you want to try the cold one!
The water temperature is often extremely hot. The one we went to was about 40-50C, and we couldn't stay submerged too long. The Japanese guys seemed more used to it, but we poor Westerners just couldn't manage!
We stayed for just under an hour and then washed again and got dressed. It's so nice on your muscles! Especially when the last time I had a bath was at home in November, it's only showers for me here!
The public baths work just like hot springs, but are much more common, and cheaper. It cost about Y400 for us to go in, and there wasn't a time limit, except for the closing time, which was about 11pm.
You first put your shoes in the small lockers near the reception, and then go through the curtain to the changing rooms, 男 means men and 女 means women.
In the changing rooms you completely undress and put your clothes in a locker. With sentou you often need to bring your own towel, modesty towel (to cover areas you don't want other people to see) and shampoo etc. Onsen usually provide these things.
Then you go through into the main bath area and sit in front of one of the mirrors on a small stool and wash yourself all over. Make sure to wash off all of the soap before getting into the bath. In the bath I went to, there was one large hot bath, with jacuzzi-style areas along one wall, and one ice-cold bath. It's quite dangerous to change your body's temperature so quickly so be careful if you want to try the cold one!
The water temperature is often extremely hot. The one we went to was about 40-50C, and we couldn't stay submerged too long. The Japanese guys seemed more used to it, but we poor Westerners just couldn't manage!
We stayed for just under an hour and then washed again and got dressed. It's so nice on your muscles! Especially when the last time I had a bath was at home in November, it's only showers for me here!
Haircut in Kichijoji
Yesterday afternoon I went and had my haircut in Kichijoji. It was a very nice, new salon, and they had English speaking staff. It was interesting trying to explain exactly what I wanted done to my hair, but I find that difficult in English anyway!
If you live near Kichijoji and need a haircut, then I definitely recommend this salon! Especially if you're nervous about trying to explain what you want in Japanese!
They have a Kichijoji (吉祥寺) and a Yoyogi-Uehara (代々木上原) branch.
If you live near Kichijoji and need a haircut, then I definitely recommend this salon! Especially if you're nervous about trying to explain what you want in Japanese!
They have a Kichijoji (吉祥寺) and a Yoyogi-Uehara (代々木上原) branch.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Collecting My Chinese Visa
This morning I went back to the Chinese Embassy in Roppongi to collect my Chinese tourist visa. For directions and other information on applying for Chinese visas in Tokyo, please see my previous post.
You can collect the visa 4 days after applying, or you can pay to collect it after two days, but I didn't do that.
I went up to Window 6, which is the first port of call when you enter, and showed the woman my receipt. She gave me a number and told me to pay Y4,000 at a machine in the corner. The machine looked like one of the machines you can buy meals from in restaurants like Matsuya.
I selected the Y4,000 button and inserted the money, and it gave me a receipt. I took that receipt, the receipt they gave me last week and my number up to one of the other windows, and the woman there gave me my passport, complete with Chinese visa! I was very happy to have it all sorted. This time I was only in the Embassy for ten minutes, including a trip to the toilet!
So now I'm really going to China! Woohoo!
You can collect the visa 4 days after applying, or you can pay to collect it after two days, but I didn't do that.
I went up to Window 6, which is the first port of call when you enter, and showed the woman my receipt. She gave me a number and told me to pay Y4,000 at a machine in the corner. The machine looked like one of the machines you can buy meals from in restaurants like Matsuya.
I selected the Y4,000 button and inserted the money, and it gave me a receipt. I took that receipt, the receipt they gave me last week and my number up to one of the other windows, and the woman there gave me my passport, complete with Chinese visa! I was very happy to have it all sorted. This time I was only in the Embassy for ten minutes, including a trip to the toilet!
So now I'm really going to China! Woohoo!
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