Celebrating

It was another lovely day here in Tokyo. I am really enjoying this weather. I was going to open my window earlier this morning, but I had a little visitor stuck between my window and the screen. It was a little lizard of some sort. After playing hard to get, I was finally able to open up the screen and push him out. I am still trying to figure out how he made it in there. Looks like I will not be leaving my window open during the night. I do not really appreciate uninvited guests in my bed.

I woke up this morning and did a quick little workout. It is so true when they say that working out makes you happy. It was a fabulous way to start the day!

Afterwards, I showered, cleaned my room, took out the garbage, ate brunch, and went for a stroll through a local neighborhood to pick up some groceries and necessities. So I put on some presentable clothes and my flip flops and headed out.

I stopped at a few drug stores to pick up bathroom supplies and some detergent. I was amazed to see how much detergent is here! Nearly $22.00 for a SMALL container of Tide. But because Tide was the only container that I was familiar with (aka - the only container that I could read), I had to splurge and go for it.

I then stopped at a few little boutiques, looking at flowers and talking to some shop owners the best that I could. After trying to discuss where I was from and what I was doing here in broken Japanese, I finally made my way to the Super Market. It was my lucky day because there were a lot of sales! I feel as though "sales" is universally appreciated by all college students.

On my way back home, I encountered many people. Lots of families out for strolls with there pets. But among these people, there was only one person that really interacted with me. As I was walking past a smoke shop, this elderly woman looked up to me and smiled. I smiled back and said 'hello' in Japanese, with an obviously foreign accent, I'm sure. She replied and added a sweet but almost sarcastic がんばて, which in English translates to "Good Luck."

I have never felt more foreign to an area.

Regardless, I am enjoying myself and am celebrating the end of my first week of classes. Last night, some friends of mine who also live in the International House and I went to the local liquor shop to pick up some celebratory drinks and munchies. Gin and tonic and ramen. That is something that I will miss when I return to the states.

Keep me posted on happenings back home.

I would love to hear from you all!

Love. Peace. Always.