TravelStream™ news feed for member curiousface on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/curiousface en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Mon, 30 Mar 2009 03:51:48 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/curiousface/1/1238399460/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/curiousface/1/1238399460/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/curiousface/1/1238399460/tpod.html Mon, 30 Mar 2009 03:51:48 -0400 After 4 years, JAPAN!

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Tokyo, Kanto, Japan

Yay for spring :)
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Tokyo, Kanto, Japan

ghghg
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/curiousface/1/1226998860/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/curiousface/1/1226998860/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/curiousface/1/1226998860/tpod.html Tue, 09 Dec 2008 04:57:35 -0500 After 4 years, JAPAN!

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Tokyo, Kanto, Japan

So today, my mission was to go get a bank account and a phone...mission failure. I had been told that I didn't need to get a bank account before I could get a phone, so I decided that I would get the phone first. I traveled from Kamishakujii (where I live) to Harajuku where I would find a "softbank" (cell phone dealer). I had been to Harajuku before, when Becky and I went to check out the tree fort coffee shop, and the street performers. Harajuku is where you can buy the coolest stuff. Anyway, I arrived at Softbank and was shown a few 0 down cell phones. I picked a really nice blue one :) but when we started to do the paperwork, he required my Gaijin card which I had not recieved yet, but will be recieving on the 25th. Unfortunately it is impossible to get a cell phone without the Gaijin card (a Gainjin card is a card for Foreigners for alein registration). The gentleman at the counter asked me to come back when I have the Gainjin card and then we will work the cell phone dealie out.
After I was unable to get a cell, I decided that since I was in Harajuku I might as well do a little touring around. I cruized through the streets for a while, took some random pictures and then headed home.

After returning to Kamishakujii I hit up the grocery store to buy some noodles bread and cereal. I treated myself to a chocolate chip bun thing (amazing) and ate it as I walked home. I arrived at home and proceeded to check my email where, to my suprize, I had recieved an email from GABA accepting my application and asking for the closest Learning Studio to my area. I chose Meguro which is only about a half an hour journey from my house. I am so excited that I have a job. I am so thankful to the Big Guy upstairs!

So Becky finally got her tattoo done and it looks GREAT! I am so impressed with the skin artists here. I am pretty sure she agrees as well, although it is not too hard to tell from the look on her face. Mom I think I am going to get full sleeve tattoos here, I hope thats okay! :¬D JK

Please feel free to comment on my Entries and Pictures, It would make my day!

Remeber to smile everyday!

I'm Back, and oh god, 5 VERY large beers later and a pikachu costume. Man, I am sooo ready for bed! Becky Santa and I drank some beers/wine and hung out to celebrate my job getting. It was very fun :) I am happy and ready for bed npow. mmmmm bed, yes, me go bed now,

gnight!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/curiousface/1/1227240480/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/curiousface/1/1227240480/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/curiousface/1/1227240480/tpod.html Tue, 09 Dec 2008 04:54:13 -0500 After 4 years, JAPAN!

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Tokyo, Kanto, Japan

So it has been a couple days since I last entered an entry, BUT DONT WORRY! I am entering now. So after the night of celebrating for my job getting, I had a head ache. But the night was a lot of fun, and I hadn't had that much fun in a while. I found out that Santa is a very cool guy. He used to live in the states AND he lived in the same place Modest Mouse lived. Cooooooool :) I love modest mouse.

I have to be completely honest, I have been doing alot of nothing the past couple days. I rearranged my room and so now I can play music, so that is pretty much all I have been doing. yup that's about it. But the weekend is coming so then I will have something more interesting to write about. But in the meantime, I am going to take random pictures of stuff. :D

Stu
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/curiousface/1/1228560060/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/curiousface/1/1228560060/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/curiousface/1/1228560060/tpod.html Sat, 06 Dec 2008 06:22:28 -0500 After 4 years, JAPAN!

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Tokyo, Kanto, Japan

If anyone has any prayer requests, they better get them out of the way now 'cause God is going to be a bit preoccupied with me. I have no clue how the hell I managed to get hired on with Gaba....its a miracle. Today was My first day of training and it went relatively well except for the fact that I felt VERY out of place. All of my fellow trainees where either studying for their PHDs and know more than three languages or were Japanese. So there I was, sitting in a class wearing my worn out, second hand, suit jacket complete with obviously miss matched black dress pants surrounded by well dressed, well traveled scholars. Two of them are from Australia and have been to Japan many times, one of them was Japanese and fluent in English and the last one was a girl from France studying her third language along with whatever classes on top of that! But although I felt discouraged I flashed a little confidence to the others and tried not to make direct contact with the teacher for too long, so he would have less of a chance to unintensionally embarass me by asking a grammer question I didn't know.

The day went by relatively quick, and it was nice to power up my brain again, clean out some of them cob webs. The teacher was really nice, his name is Nathaniel and he is from Ireland. Nat has been living in Japan for about 5 years and has a Japanese wife here. I am excited and VERY nervous to start working, but I am sure everything will work out fine. I will make lots of mistakes and use them as stepping stones to improve my character and my resume. Even though I know I am going to make lots and LOTS of mistakes a few words to the big guy upstairs from you guys wouldn't hurt. Thank you :)

As for everything else, things are going really well. I am sad that Becky had to move back to the UK since Jackie, Her and I were getting along so well. The night before Becky headed out, we all decided to go bust a move at the local Karaoke bar, and was it ever weird. When any unexperienced foreigner thinks of Karaoke, I'm sure they get an image in their head of a stinky little bar somewhere, stumbling full of intoxicated patrons. The air is hot and humid with alcohol breath and there is a loud flat or sharp in the air from the next "super diva" showing their stuff by singing a bad song worse. Here in Japan Karaoke is a whole different story! you start by checking in with the tired gentleman at the front desk. He asks you how many people are with you party and how long you will be. Then he escorts you and your companions to a private room complete with its own TV and Karaoke machine. Using the phone on the wall you can call the desk to order food and drinks until you time is up.

That night we all sang our faces off until everything sounded great! We were up till about 3:30 in the AM and hit the sack for about three hours so we could see Becky off. I helped her all the way to Shinjuku station which was about a half an hour away. It was a good thing too, because I REALLY don't think she could have handled both of her suitcases and her packsack by herself. Im pretty sure I was still drunk when I saw her to the platform but I was sobre enough to wish her a safe trip. After I got home I think slept till about 4:30 in the afternoon.

My Tamagochi is pissed off at me, I left it at home and didn't clean up its "doo doo". I wonder how you can teach it to clean up its own mess! anyway, I dont have any pictures of today, but I think Jackie has pictures of Karaoke, that I will add. If they are on this page, it means YES and if they are not....it means NO. But after I am done training and stuff, I will start taking more pictures, I think I am going to take a video recording of the Yamanote line (Public transit train) during rush hour....YAY!

Peace for now!
Miss you all....even those I do not know :)
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/curiousface/1/1227536460/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/curiousface/1/1227536460/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/curiousface/1/1227536460/tpod.html Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:49:35 -0500 After 4 years, JAPAN!

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Today was shopping day and, although I didn't really buy anything, it was still really fun. Jackie had to go do a little Christmas shopping so I decided to tag along. She needed to find a Metal Gear Solid Edition PS3 for her boyfriend. We explored an area of Tokyo known for the massive stores full of technology. There is pretty much anything you can think of in Electric City, Macintosh galore. I checked out the new macintosh and suddenly didn't feel as satisfied with mine.

Soon after arriving at Electric City Jackie and I stopped to get some food at "The Hub", we listened to Christmas music and ate our lunch. I had a burger and Jackie had currie and rice. I was given mashed potatos with my meal, and in the mashed potatos was a little bit of wasabi, it was suprisingly tasty.
We looked all over but could not find that Playstation anywhere, instead we found ourselves in a very funny store full of Halloween costumes, Christmas costumes, Thanksgiving costumes, Monday costumes, Tuesday costumes, Wednesday costumes and sex toys. It was quite entertaining. So just a side note; Crepes are my favorite EVER, and it just so happens that crepe stores are EVERYWHERE here. Before we left to go home we stopped to have a double cream chocolate banana crepe. Oh man!

We managed to find our way home, soaking wet and cold from the rain. Did I mention that iactually rained today? Stupid spider. Electric city definitely called for return visit someday when it is nice out.
More pictures of the day are on the way after I grab them from Jackie.
Tomorrow I am getting my Phone and Gaijin card!
Yay
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/curiousface/1/1227422100/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/curiousface/1/1227422100/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/curiousface/1/1227422100/tpod.html Sun, 23 Nov 2008 02:24:58 -0500 After 4 years, JAPAN!

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Tokyo, Kanto, Japan

So I learned a few things last night.
number 1) If you miss the last train, you are going to be out all night
number 2) If you are going to be out all night, DON'T go to a lame rap club...*shutter
number 3) If you are going to be at a lame rap club, DON'T put your jacket in a shared locker
number 4) Freshness Burger makes the BEST 5 in the morning burgers

So yesterday I woke up at about 11 o clock and had some breakfrist. Then Becky and I went to the "LIFE" store to buy some groceries. I bought bread, oranges, instant coffee, cereal, milk, coffee milk, some sort of fruit drink stuff (its pretty good), Strawberry jam, noodles, and these really awesome darjeeling tea drinks. After returning home we decided to watch the last half of Treasure Planet (where we left off the previous night) with hot tea and Oreo cookies. Becky was trying to pack, so I was a perfect excuse for her NOT to pack. The movie ended and she went about cleaning her room and packing some things, just to give her that moving out buzz. While she was packing I was playing with her Poi, which I have grown to like quite a bit. When I went to give her Poi back to her she refused and said I could have them :) now I can become a Poifessional.

Becky and I hung out all day, and Her friend John from England, but living in Norway, came over to vist Japan, so we all went out for dinner together. It was very nice. After dinner, we headed back to the house and I hung out in my room for a bit until Jackie came home. I got to meet her boyfriend Taiga who is REALLY awesome! Jackie got ready to go for a while and then we were off on our way to a birthday party for a friend of Jackie's. But first we had to make a quick stop at the convenience store to grab some beers. Did you know you can drink in public here!? I didn't, but now I do. I grabbed a cider beer, which was delightful, and proceeded to drink it all the way to the party (even on the train). Jackie, Becky, Taiga and I shared some laughs as we travelled to the party. Just outside of the train station there was this Japanese guy rocking out on a set of drums, he was so into the sounds he was producing, it got me missing my Dad.

We met up with pretty much everyone at Mr.Doughnut (open 24/7), the bar was just around the corner. There were ALOT of people there, I hadn't heard that much English in one room since I left Canada. You could barely move from one side of the bar to the other. I met lots and lots of very nice people at the party. Its a new feeling to automatically have something significant in common with everyone in a packed bar. I hope I see those people again. Anyway, we drank and then Jackie Taiga and Becky had to head out but I decided to stay. I wasn't sure if this bar stays open all night so I can stay there until the trains start running again but there were these two girls, Vanessa and Sobil going to a club and they invited me to come. Okay! (bad move). We left the little bar and caught a train to Shibuya, then we walked to GasPanic. We opened the door to the club and I started praying that this was the one and only rap song that they played all night but the amount of Japanese guys with their hats on sideways was not very assuring. I put my sweater into the same locker as the girls I was with, which was also a bad move. Since my sweater was in the locker that I did not have a key for a was Obligated to stay. I never want to hear another rap song in my life, PLease!!! I stayed there till 43o in the morning until I could get my sweater from the girl, and then I went accross the road with Vanessa, Vanessa's guy friend, and some crazy dude from somewhere. I had two of the most amazing burgers I have ever had. I dont remember much of the night but I think I had a good time. I learned for very important things, I started a breakdance circle that lasted 2 hours (with the same two Japanese guys dancing off), and I found out what time the sun comes up here (7:00). I caught my train back home and was never happier to be in my bed! I slept till about 2:30 and now I am going to have a shower? yes shower!

check out the pikchas
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/curiousface/1/1226889900/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/curiousface/1/1226889900/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/curiousface/1/1226889900/tpod.html Mon, 17 Nov 2008 06:27:52 -0500 After 4 years, JAPAN!

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Tokyo, Kanto, Japan

So, as you can probably guess by my videos, French toast was all I did today. I didn't receive an email back from Gaba today, so hopefully tomorrow.

I bought a garbage can! yay! I really needed it, my garbage was starting to fill my corner. since there is nothing really to type about for today, I will type my plans for tomorrow!. I think tomorrow is Burnable Garbage day, so that means I should probably put it by the street and I think that maybe if I am feeling courageous, I might get a bank account set up and possibly a phone. If Gaba does'nt contact me tomorrow I am going to start taking personal tutor students by myself through findateacher.net. This web site was referred to me by Jackie, my next room neighbor. I guess she uses it all the time and its awesome! After I get my phone I can make an account. My foot is getting better :¬D it does'nt hurt at all today, so tomorrow I should be about 98.765468689% healthy.

I really need a table and chair in my room, sitting on my bed is starting to get annoying. All in time i guess. Once I get a phone I can start picking up some free stuff from Metropolis magazine (number 1 Gaijin magazine in Tokyo). But now I must go do SOMETHING, but I dont know what....I will probably do nothing, but atleast I will have tried.

anywhooo

bai
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/curiousface/1/1226829660/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/curiousface/1/1226829660/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/curiousface/1/1226829660/tpod.html Sun, 16 Nov 2008 06:49:50 -0500 After 4 years, JAPAN!

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So I have been here for 10 days now and the inevitable "home sickness" is starting to set in. I feel very "blah" today. I slept in till noonish this morning, made myself a fried egg sandwich which was VERY good, and then just hung out at my place till about two. At two I headed on my way to Church which I was pretty excited for since I'm not feeling the best. There is nothing for me to be not happy about, I am just in that "stage". I know it will pass, but oh man.

It was nice to arrive at church and listen to some good live music, but right when the pastor started speaking I felt almost angry at him. The whole service (and last service) was like an advertisement, I had seen thousands of times. He yammered on about how the gospel is good and how the church is where everyone should be to learn about Christ. I agree with that statement and have agreed with it my whole life, BUT I AM AT CHURCH...TO HEAR THE GOSPEL!!!! where the hell is what I came for?

As the pastor spoke, people around me did that "quiet moan" thing under their breath as if the words he was speaking were the most powerful words they have ever heard. It was like people's lives where instantly being changed by the "incredible cleaning power of the new Mr.Clean scrub brush". I left Church annoyed and almost embarrassed by my Christian peers. Where they actually listening to what he was preaching about for an hour?

Before I left I waited in line to shake the pastors hand again. I had met him last week, and we spoke for a while. I told him that I had just arrived in Japan and that I would come to the church again. I introduced myself, and he introduced me to three more people involved in the church, who this week had completely forgotten who I was. Dejavu. I grabbed a hot can of coffee from the vending machine and walked back to the Shibuya train station, it was raining. On my way home I accidentally landed myself in the Local train to Kamishakujii, which meant I had to stop at every station on the way home. It gave me time to think, I decided that I will make french toast for breakfast tomorrow.

I left the train station, and walked to the store to pick up some vanilla, sugar, Cinnamon, and bread. Now I am about to make some noodles for supper. No pictures today, my bad.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/curiousface/1/1226737620/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/curiousface/1/1226737620/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/curiousface/1/1226737620/tpod.html Sat, 15 Nov 2008 12:11:25 -0500 After 4 years, JAPAN!

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Tokyo, Kanto, Japan

Aaron Klingbeil
First House RM.104
Neruma-ku
Tokyo-to
177-0044
Japan

(for the pizza, this is my mailing address)

Today, I slept in till 12 o'clock! It was very nice, but I am not quite used to my futon mattress. I don't think you can classify it as a mattress because it doesn't have any springs, its more like one of those pillows you put on the top of patio furniture. I will eventually get used to it, BUT when my parents come to visit I think i am going to convince them to bring a BIG air mattress (you can't get those here). Then they can sleep on it, and after they leave they can just "forget" it here and I will have a guest bed :¬D. I was given a bamboo today from Becky! its name is Agatha Christie and I am going to take care of it :) and take pictures of it every day!

So the Theme for this weekend is to to chill out and let my foot fix itself :) so I am going to do alot of nothing and maybe watch some house! oh and send in a resume to ECC, I just found their English site (it will be useful).

Early this afternoon, I went for a walk to the ¥100 store to buy a Plate-to eat from, a Cup-to drink from, some hangars- to put clothes on and batteries for my new clock. I limped to the store, gathered my required items and brought them to the till only to discover that I was out of cash. I needed to find a bank machine!
I thought to myelf "it shouldn't be too hard" so I journeys down the road a little ways to a small convenience store. Low and behold there WAS a bank machine that accepted credit cards AND it had English as an option! " bsht" I insert my card, as instructed, and suddenly the machine starts making a scene....a machine scene! everyone looks at the foreigner (me) not knowing how to work the machine with three buttons on it.
its spits out my card and tells me not to put it in again "this machine does not accept cards issued outside of Japan, Do not try the rejected card again! (it knew me too well).

Well now what am I going to do, "I know! i will go find a 7/11! they have those here and I am pretty sure they have an international bank machine!. Now my 10 minute journey to the dollar store has turned into an hour and a half journey to the dollars store, then 10 minutes past the train station, to the AM/PM (convenience store) and finally to 7/11 where I would successfully obtain cash from the machine and buy some batteries. I also won a free bowl of instant noodles! After completing my money retreiving task, I gimped my way back to the dollars store and then to home where I would make an toasted egg sandwich. It was Delightful.

The rest of the day was spend with Becky, drinking tea, eating Pocky and watching a very amusing english comedian. I think now we are waiting for a friend to arrive so he can drive us to the land of food. We would walk, but aside for my injured legs, someone stole Kirbys cake again so he is out on a killing rampage. I really want pizza! if someone could send me a large BBQ chicken stuffed crust with pizza salt on the crust that would be fantasic!.

anywho, I think I am going to....do something...I am not sure yet. OH YEA! upload pictures. Mmmmm pictures.

Oh one more thing,
You are now breathing and blinking manually.

PS. My story of the day Continues. After I uploaded some pictures, I went for some food with Becky and Sean (friend of Becky/New friend of mine) at a Really awesome indian Restaurant. After the restaurant we went to the Arcade and played some games, Becky won a Gloomy bear thing. I ownzored at Mariokart. Then we went for a beer at a small pub (although I do not think that is what it is called here) and to finish off our excursion we went to "Book off" (a second hand book and dvd store). We travelled home and I spent the rest of the night drinking beer and having a jolly old time chatting up my other housemate Jackie. Now I am Skyping with Carmen, and am about to go to slumber mode.

PS.ps. I don't remember if I mentioned this or not but in an earlier entry I called Becky Sara and that was a mistake...or was it?

Peace outz
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