GaijinPunch
Sep 27, 2005, 13:12
Okay, here's one (well, two really) of my few interesting stories that don't incriminate me. They're nothing major, but it can help people that haven't been to Japan identify with how out of place you can be.
My first experience to Japan was as an exchange student in September of 1996, in the bustling city of Shizuoka. It's by no means inaka, but it is pretty far from Tokyo. Anyways, it's time for the first day of school. To get to school, I have to take a bus to Shimizu station, then a train two stops to Shizuoka station, then a rather lengthy bus ride to school. I'm 6'3" and haven't quite acclimated to my new surroundings. So, I'm getting off the train and BAMMM, I hit my forehead on the way out. I didn't fall to the ground, but it was a pretty big smack. Despite not being in Tokyo, the trains at rush hour are packed just as tight. Finding a friend would be a chore if you got seperated.
Anyways, I mosey on to the bus stop, wait about 10 minutes, get on the bus and take the 45 minute or so ride. When we get to school, part of our orientation is to have a Q&A w/ the Japanese students. The first question I was asked was, "is your head okay?". I had heard stories about sticking out, but being picked out of about 300 or so people on a train platform was pretty impressive I thought.
Fast forward about 16 months later. I've graduated and am going to move to Tokyo to figure out what on Earth I'm going to do with my life. I've arranged to live with an old friend from college and his roommate, in Meidaimae. It's a handful of stops passt Shinjuku and Shibuya on the Keio and Inokashira lines, respectively. I go from Narita to Shinjuku and call my friend to get better directions. He says to come to Meidaimae station and call from there, which I do. My friend's roommate comes and picks me up and takes me back to the apartment, where my friend is having an English lesson. His student looks a bit surprised. When I'm out of earshot she says to my friend, "I just saw him in Shinjuku station."
My first experience to Japan was as an exchange student in September of 1996, in the bustling city of Shizuoka. It's by no means inaka, but it is pretty far from Tokyo. Anyways, it's time for the first day of school. To get to school, I have to take a bus to Shimizu station, then a train two stops to Shizuoka station, then a rather lengthy bus ride to school. I'm 6'3" and haven't quite acclimated to my new surroundings. So, I'm getting off the train and BAMMM, I hit my forehead on the way out. I didn't fall to the ground, but it was a pretty big smack. Despite not being in Tokyo, the trains at rush hour are packed just as tight. Finding a friend would be a chore if you got seperated.
Anyways, I mosey on to the bus stop, wait about 10 minutes, get on the bus and take the 45 minute or so ride. When we get to school, part of our orientation is to have a Q&A w/ the Japanese students. The first question I was asked was, "is your head okay?". I had heard stories about sticking out, but being picked out of about 300 or so people on a train platform was pretty impressive I thought.
Fast forward about 16 months later. I've graduated and am going to move to Tokyo to figure out what on Earth I'm going to do with my life. I've arranged to live with an old friend from college and his roommate, in Meidaimae. It's a handful of stops passt Shinjuku and Shibuya on the Keio and Inokashira lines, respectively. I go from Narita to Shinjuku and call my friend to get better directions. He says to come to Meidaimae station and call from there, which I do. My friend's roommate comes and picks me up and takes me back to the apartment, where my friend is having an English lesson. His student looks a bit surprised. When I'm out of earshot she says to my friend, "I just saw him in Shinjuku station."