Hello everyone from Japan!

I’ve finally gotten a chance to post my first blog entry!

The Flight.

The flight over to Japan was pretty comfortable. I’ve never flown on United Airlines before so I was curious as to what the plane food would be. After being crammed nice and pretty into economy class, we flew two hours out of Logan Intl. into Chicago O’Hare. Upon landing, another student from NEU and I were to catch a connecting flight into Narita, Japan. Like a responsible little person that I am, I ran over to the nearest departure/arrival screen and was pleased to find that everyone of the flights were on time all except for one; my flight. Cursing my luck, I went to the terminal only to be told over loud speaker that the flight was delayed. Thanks, I could’ve gotten that from the departure/arrival screens. What I really wanted to know was by how long. Of course, no one had an answer. Luckily, we were told within half and hour after we were supposed to depart that we would be boarding in ten minutes. Onwards I went to Japan again cramped in economy class. I was unfortunate enough to be stuck in the aisle seat. Now, there are both pros and cons for getting an aisle seat for a 15 hour flight over Canada and the Pacific and one pro is if you have an overactive bladder you can use the lavatory without having to disturb anyone. The con, however, was that I had no comfortable way to sleep. Yes, I know, you must be thinking that it is too much for me to ask that I sleep comfortably on the plane. But I just wanted to at least not be knocked unconscious by the stewardess’s drink cart if my head happens to drift towards the aisle, and not weird out the guy sitting next to me if my head happens to drift towards the left and land on his shoulder. Three movies and one BBC interview later I was in Japan.

The Hotel.

When we first arrived in Narita, Japan, we were escorted to a hotel where I got to spend my first night in Japan. The hotels were wonderful. I never had the chance to steal, I mean take the complimentary items that were actually useful. Whereas in American hotels you can only take the cheap towels and the mini bottles of shampoo that last only for three showers, in the Narita Garden hotel we were given generous amounts of shampoo, conditioner and body wash. Not to mention a body sponge, a shower cap, a razor, a hairbrush, and a toothbrush with tooth paste! I never felt so spoiled in my life! Maybe I should just stop staying in hostels or econolodges and get the same kind of service. Across the street from our hotel was a Christmas Hotel.

Not only can you get a room, but other special services here.

Though being a tourist would have to running to check out this little dive, in Japan these hotels give you not only the complimentary services but other services as well, if you know what I mean.

Leopalace 21 Champ-Vert.

After arriving on campus the next day and getting free lunch, we were able to finally move into our apartments. The university split everyone into groups and assigned Japanese buddies who go to Obirin to take us there. The apartment is a bit far about 25 minutes from the campus, but after walking around in Boston, it really is not a big deal. I live on the second floor of a brand new apartment. It has everything except for an oven and food.

A Brief Tour of 202 Leopalace 21 Champ-Vert

Burnable/NonBurnable Garbage Oh My!

The one thing that I find a bit annoying here in Japan is how complicated everything can be. From setting up my internet in the apartment which took 6 Americans, to setting up my internet at Obirin which only required 4 Americans but 5 hours of labor. However, the most complicated aspect of living in Japan thus far is the garbage system. Oh how I miss the American garbage system where us lazy Americans can throw everything away in a garbage bag and send it off to decompose for the next 100 years in an overflowing landfill. On our first day of orientation, we were given an 8 page pamphlet on how to separate and throw out our garbage. There are two major types of garbage burnable and nonburnable and you are responsible for throwing out the proper garbage in the proper bag that you must buy at convenience stores or supermarkets. The burnable garbage which goes in an orange bag includes kitchen scraps, tree branches (you know for when you host that bonfire in your apartment), cushions, tempura oil, shells, rainboots, stuffed toys (from your ex’s), soft plastic bottles, dirty and torn clothes (there is a stipulation here see old clothes disposal below), plastic containers, cups and packages for food stuffs and daily necessities, packing materials used for household electrical goods such as styrene foam, plastic bags and wrap for food stuffs and daily necessities, plastic packaging for fruit, and plastic trays for foodstuffs. The non-burnable garbage which are placed in green bags includes porcelain and glass items, tapes, floor chairs, toys, hard plastic type bottles, mirrors, light bulbs, tire chains, umbrellas, logs/square timber, small-sized electrical products, printers, vinyl hoses, flower pots, planners, etc. In addition, you are forced, yes it’s not a choice (sorry Emmanuel they are pro-green here), you are forced to recycle your bottles and cans. If you have glass bottles well it sucks to be you because you’ve got lots of work to do before you can throw that shit out. You must empty all the contents and rinse the bottle.

Old Clothing.

If you’ve got old clothing you can throw it out except if the clothes are dirty, eaten by moths, torn, faded, or holey. Which leaves me wondering, what kind of clothes do Japanese people throw out? Brand new ones?

For garbage collection, we are allowed to throw out our burnable garbage every Mon. and Thurs., non burnable garbage on every other Wed., bottles and cans every Sat., harmful trash every 2^nd Sat. or 4^th Sat. depending on the type of harmful trash like your heroin needles, used paper, clothes and rags every Tue. In addition, the garbage has to be out before 8:30 am on the day of pick up and not the night before.

So did you get all that?