Chooo-chooo

Alright, so let’s talk about the trains in Tokyo because my attempt to ride them makes for some funny stories.  One of the train stations is right next to my hotel, so finding that train station was no big deal.  So on Saturday, I got there easily, found the machines that you use to buy tickets and then I had to figure out how to use them.  I knew what train station I need to get to, but instead of buying a ticket from point X to point Y, you buy a ticket that costs some number of Yen.  And then you can take a train to any stop that costs the number of Yen you paid.  If you accidently pay too little, they have these machines called “fare adjustment machines” so that you don’t have to live in the train station or get arrested trying to leave without paying enough.  Of course, none of this is explained in English (I know, I know, I’m in JAPAN) so it took me a little while to figure it out.  Lucky for me, however, they do put the English names on the maps so I wasn’t completely lost, I just had to find the station I wanted and it had the number of Yen above it.  I bought a ticket, went through the ticket machine (where they put a hole in your ticket and I’m sure there is something else done so that they know where you got on, but really, all I saw was a hole in my ticket.)  Then I boarded the train.  Easy, right?  Ha.  The reason this was easy is because the train from Tsukuba station only goes one direction, towards Tokyo.  You can't get on the wrong train (unless you get on a rapid train instead of a local train, but more on that later.)  I got to my stop where I had to change trains and that is where things got really complicated.  I paid the right amount so they let me out of the train station (rock on!)  I had to leave one train station to walk next door to get to the other train station (different railways.)  I got there and this one had no English name translations.  So, not only did I have no clue how much to pay, I had no idea which train to take.  With the help of some convenient signs and the map that I had printed from the internet, I found where I needed to go.  I got about three stops into this train when everyone got off.  And then there was me on a train that was stopped.  So, I got off.  And got back on.  And then got off to look at the signs again.  And then back on.  I did this like 6 times, I’m not kidding.  All the while, I am looking across the track to the other side where there are like 1500000 people and thinking to myself “I wonder if I am supposed to be over there?”  Finally, after all those people boarded the train and the train left, I realized that yes, indeed, I needed to be over there.  No worries, trains come like every 15 minutes.  Got on my train and realized it was a “rapid” train which means that it doesn’t stop at every stop.  Oops.  Someone loves me though, because it stopped at the one I wanted.  Phew.  Once I had this figured out, the trains got a little bit easier for me.  Too bad Houston doesn't have trains for me to practice on...

I have a grand total of ONE picture from all of my train riding and it is just of a map....but....enjoy :)

JAXA Visitors' Complex

At the front gate of JAXA (the space center in Tsukuba,) they have a visitors' museum and gift shop that is open to the public.  On Tuesday after work, K (my travel companion) and I decided to check it out on our way home.  They have a ton of mock-ups at the museum and the gift shop was stocked with some pretty cool things.  I bought some post cards, a space station model (assembly required) and some Manga for my friend, Carolina.  As for the mock-ups, the pictures don't really do them justice, but they are fun to look at anyway...



 

Walking

The Okura Frontier hotel is about a 30 minute walk to the back gate of JAXA (which gave me a required hour of exercise a day...rock on!)  The walk had a few small hills and a lot of bikers that tried to run us over as we walked.  The weather was gorgeous, so walking was the perfect way to wake up and wind down from the day!  Some pictures of the walking path...

My Hotel

I am staying at the Okura Frontier Hotel in Tsukuba.  There are two buildings in the hotel, one is the main building and one is called “the Annex” and I am in the Annex, on the 5^th floor.  The rooms in the annex are in a giant circle (technically a square) around the pool.  So, when I walk out my door, I can look down and see the pool.  Kind of cool.  It costs 1000 Yen (~$13) to use the pool.  Good thing I forgot my bathing suit. 

The hotel room is pretty much like any normal hotel room.  I have two twin beds (one to hold the feather blankets that I cannot use and one to sleep on,) a desk, a television and all of the normal things that are supposed to exist in the bathroom.  The toilet doubles as a bidet.  To date, I haven’t used that feature.  I’ll keep you posted, but don’t hold your breath ;) 

My hotel is, quite literally, right next to both the bus station and the train station.  I can see them from my window. 

I think the coolest part of my hotel room is the bathroom mirror.  It talks.  Just kidding.  BUT!  It does have a section right above the sink that doesn’t get foggy!  At first, I thought this was a fluke.  But it happens every day.  And that section of the mirror is warm to touch, unlike the rest of the mirror which is cool to the touch.  And my travel companion confirms that his mirror also does this trick.  Brilliant!  Kudos to whomever came up with that idea.

Going to Japan!

On Saturday morning, I packed my bags and headed to the airport.  In prep for my 13 hour flight, I bought an Ipad and loaded it up with movies and tv shows and music.  I also brought my Kindle (with new books) and my Ipod and lots of food!  I got to the airport pretty early (thanks to my roomie for driving me!) and got through security with no issues.  Then they called to board elite and first class and I realized that they were calling rows in both English and Japanese.  This makes sense, as I am going to Japan.  But they would call in Japanese first.  That amused me.  Anyway, they continued and I am 90% certain that they never actually called my row, but at some point, most of the people were on the plane or in line, so I decided that I should be too.  When I got on the plane, I stowed one of my bags in the overhead bin and the dude sitting in the middle seat next to my window wouldn't move, so I had to basically crawl around him to get to my seat.  No big thing, kind of funny though.  The plane ride was pretty uneventful.  A little turbulence at one point but nothing big.  They served me gluten free meals that were....gluten free airplane food.  Not the best, but better than nothing :)  One of my meals included black beans.  Brilliant.  Give me beans, when I am on a plane and have nowhere to go.  LOL.  Anyway, after about 3 hours on the plane, I thought to myself "hey, I'd be in Pennsylvania by now."  After about 8 hours, I was ready to get off of the plane.  But I survived. I watched a couple of movies on their in flight entertainment and a bunch of stuff on my Ipad.  I had concerns about my Ipad surviving the entire flight, but after 5 episodes of How I Met Your Mother and one episode of Erueka and watching The Ugly Truth, I was down to about 75% battery life.  Rock on, I love my Ipad!  We finally got to the Narita Airport and by this time I was mosty exhausted.  Got through immigration, baggage and customs just fine.  Got some Yen from an ATM, bought a bus ticket, bought some water, things like that.  Took the bus (about 2 hours) to Tsukuba where my hotel and the space center are.  Got checked in at my hotel, unpacked the clothes that would continue to wrinkle and went to bed!  I was sooooooooooooo tired by that point.

I took a picture of my gluten free airplane food, but is is on my phone so I can't get it until I get home.  I'll post it later.

Bedroom!

Ever since I moved into my house, I have wanted to "do" my bedroom. I moved in with some random pieces of furniture that didn't really match but were usable, knowing that some day I would buy a bedroom set. Well, life happened...and didn't happen...and happened some more...and then finally, earlier this year, I decided it was time! Voila, my new bedroom furniture!

Bed and nightstands

Dresser

Upright Dresser

So, step one was complete. Then I went on a hunt for a bedding set! That didn't take as long :)

Don't mind the upside down Penn State Blanket (that's my cat hair catcher)

Yay, step 2 complete! I've even got a little "Alliance" versus "Horde" going on :)

Now, I am in the decorating phase. I am nowhere near done, but here is the start!

Totally the saying I live by :)

More to come as time permits (well, and budget!) Oh, and I got a new bookshelf as well (for those that noticed the incorrectly colored one in the first picture) but I don't have a picture!

Amusement

Angie, Eryx, Craig (Eryx's friend) and I joined the NASA Nerdz Bowling League this season. After a long long email chain discussing names, we finally decided on "the Hadron Colliders." Much to our surprise, when we got to bowling the first week, our listed name was "the Hardon Colliders" and OF COURSE, we were playing the only team with kids. Oops. After like 5 weeks (of the 10 week season,) we finally got them to change our name in the system. We spent the rest of the season bowling with the correct name...until the final week. We sucked at bowling, so at least we won an award for something...

Sea World

For a friend's 21st-ish birthday, we went to Sea World in San Antonio. It was HOT and NASTY and totally awesome! :) I totally sucked at taking pictures, so here's what I got...

Baby Shamu!!!!

I mean, seriously, he has to be the cutest thing ever!

Normal sized Shamu

Feeding the birds

Just cute :)

Wasn't Me

No idea who, when, why or how...but I do know what and I do know where.  And no, that isn't my house..

AIDS Walk 2011

On Sunday, a group of us walked in the AIDS 5K in honor of a friend's mother. I was amazed at the sheer number of people participating in the walk. I didn't get many pictures, but here are a few of the walk and the team. RIP M.H.

Sigh

Monday morning wake up call...

Foiled

Logan and Kaylee had different plans...

Loving the "open window" weather we are having!!

Oddball Out

Don't mind Kobes...he just wanted to be different.