Update 2
5-19
it has been raining almost everyday since i got here, it's not even the rainy season! well im starting to get a little frustrated with things; like phone cards and money transfer but for the most part i'm having fun. i'm beginning to embrace my ignorance here, i realized that i will mess up but that is part of the learning. i did a real smooth thing today at the store, it was VERY crowded and in an effort to move out of the way i stepped on 3 flowers that were for sale, in front of a worker! she was, of course, very nice and quickly cleaned it up. all i could say was "gomenasai gomenasai!". i felt really stupid but they were extremely polite as usual. i got lost coming back back from akihabara a few nights ago, i spent 2 hours and almost $8 traveling and when i got there everything was closed. yes, i am learning to be patient and many other things. ^_^ but, nihon ga daisuki yone! i still love japan. it's gonna be so wierd to come home, there are so many things here that are so cool.
[ ^i believe this was in shibuya, i dont what is going on but they kind of uniforms are a common site for various workers ]
[ the famous "squat" toliet, yes these kind are for women too ]
[ view from the boat taxi we took to asakusa ]
[ also from the boat, this was built by a famous french architect, people refer to it as the "poo" building ]
[ matsuri in asakusa, they take the gods for a walk and meet in the central shrine ]
[ the central shrine in asakusa ]
[ this was one of the biggest matsuri, festivals, in tokyo. asakusa is a more traditional area ]
Then there's the classes, the main two teachers are both american; one of which doesnt know anyhting about japan or the language. this is very disapointing, they are both nice but im not really here to design as much as i am learn japanese and about japan. we spent much of the talking ccs-style design bs. and many of the students dont have a significant interest in japan, they came for fun. in fact tow of them said they came on a "whim". this is very amusing considering how much research and time i spent trying to find a way to get here. well, all i really want to do is talk to some japanese people. but the good news is i heard about this conversation partner program, so im gonna try to join that. i sat down at a table in the cafeteria where some japanese girls were, they were super friendly and very excited to talk to me. however that can't happen when i with a big bunch of gaijin (cuz we scare them away) so i have to come up with a way to stay away from other americans, seriously it's annoying i need american repelant. well it's been cool here the last two days which is good since most of summer will be sroching hot.
[ one of the gaijin friends ive made, mike, in the mac lab at temple. mike speaks some but at least has a passion for japan ]
[ in the front of temple ]
[ gaijin crossing, crossing the street right across temple to get lunch ]
[ kono ramen wa oishikatta ]
[ yes chewing! ]
[ shinjuku ]