-October 20, 2006- Friday
-Well today was eventful. I still didn't get to the beach. I went to get a cell phone. My roomate Lindsey showed me how to get there, but I had to find my way back....it's only two stops up on the train...the system is much like NY's but much, much cleaner. So, I go to apply for my phone, but no one in the store speaks english...sharades really came in handy at that point. Anyway, in order to get a plan I have to show two forms of I.D.....a passport and certificate of alien registration in my case...well, I had a passport and my pre-certificate (a paper that shows proof of my application...the actual thing is like an I.D. card, and once I get that, I won't have to carry my passport around everywhere I go) so, I fill out the necessary paperwork and he points to a clock and tells me to come back in an hour.

-Now, what was I to do? I went to a 7-11 to ask where a cheap sit down Japanese restaurant was, and I thought the map that was drawn would help me, but most folks who know me, know that I am directionally challenged. So, needless to say, after the 7th person I asked I found it. Great food for about $6.50, it was in a town called Fujisawa..the restaurant's name was Okuru....mad props to the restaurant....they were soooo pleasant, and nice, but it's also crazy because I have not seen any Black people besides me around. I'm like a novelty....LOL...There were Black people on the plane, like four of us who are scheduled to work for NOVA, but their in different prefectures so who knows if I'll see them again....

-Moving on, I went to the 99Yen shop again...my roomates showed me that store...It's basically a local dollar shop...I love it, it's been helpful in getting household items....Oh, let me tell you about my big faux-pa today....well I made two, but one was not good....I went to a Starbucks and got a Grande Mocha Frap, but instead of drinking it in the store, I drank it while walking on the street.....my bad....I forgot that no one drinks or eats on the street....that's rude to Japanese people, but I'm just blaming it on being a foreigner. I'm such a tourist....well, how about my accomodations

-My room is crazy small, but I knew that it would be small coming into this, so I'm managing....I have orientation and training on Monday from 12:30-9:20pm and more training on Tuesday and Wednesday from 1:20-9pm...Thursday I'm off and then Friday I start working....I'm sure I'll have a coach during my first week or two.

-My schedule is Sunday 10am-5:20pm
Monday 1:20pm-5:40pm
Tuesday 1:20pm-9pm
Wednesday-Off
Thursday- Off
Friday 1:20pm-9pm
Saturday 10am-5:40pm

-My orientation branch is like 1/2 hour away by train but my home branch, where I'll be teaching is like an hour away.....deep, it's near Tokyo....Tokyo by train is like 1hour and 15minutes away....

-I'm grateful that I found a church to go to on Sundays that starts at 6pm.. and it's about 40 minutes away from my branch so, I may be late if this turns out to be home away from home....anyway, I'm getting off this thing. I'm taking a dry run tommorow to my training branch and a dry run on Sunday to my home branch....I think I'll get to the beach finally tommorow....