Beginnings

So due to popular demand, I've decided to set up this portion of my blog for my travels in Japan.  Which I suppose will kind of be like I'm writing a mass email. Note to self: Look into other formats in the future.

Anyways, I had an awesome flight from Honolulu to Seoul sitting next to the nicest Korean kid who would try to translate the meals and drink service to me.  The two hour layover in Seoul was much more exciting for me than I had expected -- in an art-geek kind of way.  Just the architecture and lighting in the airport was great enough to get me to pull out my old camera and take a few shots.

Upon arriving in Japan, everything was a breeze - going through customs, meeting up with Matt (my friend with whom I'm rooming with), getting a phone.  We took the train and met up with his friends at Ikebukuro for some ramen.

It was definitely not the kind of eating experience you'd ever find in the States.  At that particular restaurant, you have the most limited human contact as possible.  We ordered and paid for the size and type of meal up front through a vending machine.  The server, from behind a curtain that surrounded the counter, would then give you a little form to fill out specifying how you wanted your ramen broth.  Then you eat your meal in a cubicle - never having to see the face of the people eating next to you or those who serve you food (water was given through your own personal dispenser inside the cubicle). So in sum, a very interesting first meal.

We made our way to our apartment near Hibarigaoka Station.  By this time it was around midnight, and we then proceeded to get ourselves horribly lost for an hour or so.  Despite the time, though, I was surprised to see there were still a handful of people heading home either on foot or by bike, and we did make it to our final destination.

I can already tell it's going to be difficult to be consistent in blogging, but next post I'll talk more about the neighborhood I'm living in (with maps & pictures!), my neighbors, and the job hunt.