Karen and David Gourd
Nishi-Waseda 3-17-4-417
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-0051
Japan
Phone: 03-3203-9715 (From the U.S.A.: 011-81-3-3203-9715)
Karen’s Office in Japan:
Karen Gourd, Resident Director, Japan Study
Center for International Education
Waseda University
1-7-14-404 Nishi-Waseda
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-0051
Japan
Tel.: 03-3203-4151 ext. 5784 (From the U.S.A.: 011-81-3-3203-4151 ext. 5784)
Cellphone: 00-2474-7141
This is our first posting to this blog. Today is September 4th. We arrived in Tokyo on August 17th. We have spent the last two and a half weeks learning about Tokyo–the subway and train system, where to buy food and household items, where/how to get the alien registration card and national health insurance, how to get money, how to register to get mail, and other day to day necessities.
There are many things we still need to learn–the Japanese language, the bus system, bicycling in Japan, gift giving the Japanese way, where to find a close-by sushi restaurant, and where to find more inexpensive food and other items.
Speaking of expensive, Tokyo is an expensive city. Most items are more expensive than in the USA–some incredibly so, others only a little so. There are a few items that are about the same or even cheaper here, but not many. The 100-yen stores have been good for a lot of items. Everything in these stores cost 100 yen which is just under $1.00. We’ve gotten glasses, dishes, placemats, batteries, peanuts, orange marmalade, printer paper, stapler, tape, dish towels, utensils, and many other items here. Good bread is somewhat hard to find and is expensive. White bread is easy to find and varies in price. Rice is expensive. Oatmeal is expensive. Millet is expensive.
Almost anything can be found, including things from the USA. Yesterday we found Bob’s Red Mill Oat Bran Cereal and Seven Grain Cereal at reasonable prices.
We adjusted to jet-lag very quickly. This was the easiest adjustment I (David) have ever had. We have yet to figure out all the appliances in the apartment. The instructions are all in Japanese and there are many buttons and features for each one. The microwave and air conditioner seem especially complicated and difficult to figure out. We’ve managed to turn them on and get basic functioning, but will have to spend time with someone or dictionaries to get more in-depth use.
Yesterday we took a train ride to the nearest Costco to see if it was a reasonable distance. It wasn’t so we didn’t join. We also checked out wireless routers. They exist here but I believe they are about 1/3 more expensive than the USA and all the directions and set-up CD are in Japanese so we didn’t buy one. I’ll be working on that for awhile.
That will be enough for the first entry. I’ll try to add more regularly.
David