California - Day 2

Today , my mother and I hopped on a bus and went to Japantown. (Kiiiiiind of pointless, but it was fun!!) I have never seen so much Hello Kitty paraphernalia in my life. I'd also never seen a Zen monastery before. That was cool.

I'm amazed how clean and spiffy a city San Francisco is. All the buildings are occupied, every residential street looks colorful and picturesque, the people are dressed to the nines. Even the homeless! One gentleman I saw had a fedora, and one woman had leopard print tights. Oh, Maryland, you did NOT prepare me for that.

I'm putting up some pictures so those who aren't of Facebook can see what I've seen. 

This is at the Japan Center in Japantown. The inside of the building behind it is really just a mall, but there is a peace garden in the middle, and that's where this pagoda is. 

I'd never seen a Zen monastery before, and this was right on the edge of Japantown when we got off the bus. 

50 Shades of Gray in Japanese! I was so tempted to buy it, but I really didn't want my host family finding it and thinking I had a fetish thing going. Probably NOT the best way to make friends, especially in a considerate and modest culture. 

I know this is out of order, but this is the view of the Rockies from my seat on the airplane. I'd never seen them before, and I was glued to the window like a six-year-old for the last hour of the trip. 

And finally, the view from our room. I will never get tired of hearing a city breathe.

California - Day 1

After a six hour flight, I can honestly tell you that I am sitting 50 feet above Sutter Street in San Francisco. There's a fire escape just outside our window but they're locked. Oh, the temptation!

I always heard people say that California is warm, but I didn't believe them until I stepped out of the airport and into the West Coast air. Now, let me begin by explaining that I was wearing a pea coat over a sweater over a T-shirt so I had less to pack. It was fun in Philly (where the temperature at 6:30 hovered around -2000) but it became a nightmare on the plane and definitely in the taxi.

I'd put up some pictures but unfortunately a hotel that was built in the early 1900s will only let you charge your laptop OR your phone, not both at the same time, and obviously the internet is better. So Apple wins. 

I keep teasing mummy that I'm going to hop on a bus and roam around the Castro* and get my hair cut short and pierce my tongue before I leave. Some part of her believes it. 

Although I'm content to sit here, admire the skyline and listen to the city breathe, Mummy is ITCHING to power walk through downtown, so I'll keep this short. 

More to come. 

MORE PANIC

There are not many days left, Blogfriends.

I just ordered some long underwear (the silky kind) because apparently Japanese classrooms are so cold in the winter that they're white from the vapor of people's breath.

WHAT?

Yes, it's true . I was told by a student who's there now. 
I was also told by Rachel Stoddard to bring a bag of lollipops in case there are any little kids I can't understand. This is ingenius.

Also, it looks like the mandolin won't be coming with me ;___;

BUT OH WELL. I'm off to go finish this stat class so I can get on the plane without a single worry (besides, you know, moving to another country alone).

PANIC

So, Blogfriends:

There are 21 days left before I leave for Osaka.

 

21 DAYS? 21 DAYS? That is nothing! I've taken SHOWERS that lasted longer.