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July 31, 2005: I arrived in Tokyo Japan wandering the streets in amazement, excited about the life I was about to embark on. I will never forget how scared I was too, nor the look on our faces when we had our first glance at a train schedule written in kanji. A year later, July 31,2006, I found myself again wandering the streets of Tokyo, yet I was no longer like a fish out of water. Walking the same streets that I walked exactly a year before in Shibuya, I couldn't help but be nostalgic over the past year and what has happened between then and now.
TOKYO! Absolute Insanity From Where it All Began a Year Ago....
Casey Lary2007-03-08 21:05:26
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got fresh maguro for free, literally just cut off the fish. We went to a sushi bar for a sushi breakfast, and realized we were up way way too early. That afternoon I suffered through the JET bazaar, then later that night met all the new JETs at their first enkai. So cool to meet all of them!
Tuesday, the last day, Meredith set off back to America, her JET experience coming to a close. Lord knows what I will do without her this year to email back and forth during all those hours of nothingness during the work day. Lisa set off to work, and I set off on one last sigtseeing extravaganze. I made the mistake of heading out around 8:30- hitting rush hour on the train. I was carrying all my stuff with me- backpack and day sachel as well. Needless to say, I was not very popular among the morning commuters. I personally loved it and felt so cool being part of the chaos that goes on every weekday in the Tokyo subway and trains. I love that they actually do have bouncers to push everyone into the train. As I headed south the crowds thinned out and I made my way to Kamakura. This is a famou little town just south of Tokyo. It had some amazing shrines, temples, and one of the largest buddhas in Japan. For you Californians, the town actually reminded me of San Luis Obispo. It was a quaint little beach town. I spent the day wandering through the amazing historical temples and shrines. They had a great hiking path connecting them all so I could walk the entire town. I would highly reccommend Kamakura to anyone visiting Tokyo and wanting a break from the insanity.
I jumped on a train and headed back to Tokyo. For dinner I met up with an old Cal friend Nick Sloman. I consider Nick Sloman my personal Jake Ryan (for all you 16 Candles Fanatics!) and had a huge crush on him all of college. He was that one guy that I loved yet never wanted to touch...I enjoyed having him on his little pedestal. Seeing him and catching up on his life in Tokyo was awesome. Dinner ran a little late and I found myself sprinting through the Shinkansen exit with Nick trying to get to my train on time, weaving in and out of heards of people. I ran up to the train and the doors were closed! I had missed my train! shit! No, not really,they just hadn't opened the doors yet! The ladies in bright pink uniforms were still cleaning the train, making it immaculate for the next passengers. I boarded my train and set off back to Hiroshima, trying to recap and remember all the events of the last 4 days.
I am obsessed with Tokyo. I have so much energy, and I think thats why I like it so much! Round 2 of Japan....here I come!
See photographs from:
Japan Gallery
